CLINTON, ON — Clinton Raceway wraps up its September showcase of the Ontario Sires Stakes program on Sunday afternoon with eight Grassroots divisions for the talented three-year-old pacing fillies, and a Birthday Bash in celebration of the provincial program’s 30th anniversary.
The first 100 fans arriving at Clinton Raceway on Sunday who can prove they are also enjoying their 30s will have an opportunity to pop a balloon and win a variety of prizes. Once the balloons have all been popped the sophomore pacing fillies will provide live entertainment for the Birthday Bash guests, doing their best to keep fans of all ages on the edge of their seats.
Hoping to participate in a stirring finish in Race 10 is Im Half Nukes, owned by trainer Bud Sinclair of Sebringville and Dr. Norman Amos of St. Marys. The Apaches Fame daughter heads into Sunday’s contest off an impressive 1:57 victory at Woodstock Raceway on Sept. 6 and Sinclair says she is in top shape heading into her fifth Grassroots start.
“She’s sharp and sound right now,” says the 24-year-old horseman. “She got a tough trip at Woodstock, that’s why we gave her three weeks off, to freshen her up.”
The filly and driver Jody Jamieson will have to overcome the outside Post 7, but Sinclair notes that Im Half Nukes has developed enough versatility to give Jamieson several options when the gate swings open Sunday.
“She was real hot when we first started so we used to take her off the gate a couple of lengths and maker her go to the back, because she was wanting to leave out of there,” he explains. “Now she’s pretty handy, and when you put her on the front she’s real aggressive.”
With four Grassroots starts under her belt, Im Half Nukes has earned one second, one third, one fourth and one fifth-place finish for a total of 50 points, just 13 points shy of the current cut off for the top 16. A solid effort on Sunday could move the filly closer to a berth in the Oct. 26 Semifinal at Flamboro Downs.
“In the over nights she’s been able to beat the top fillies, but in the Sires Stakes she’s been drawing bad and not getting any breaks,” says Sinclair. “She’s pretty good on a half, so if we can get her there (Semifinal) she’ll have a shot to go with them.”
Among the fillies Im Half Nukes will face on Sunday are former Gold Series competitor Rhiannon O Rhye from Post 5 and Grassroots winner Change Of Address from Post 1.
The three-year-old pacing fillies kick off the Birthday Bash at 1:30 pm on Sunday, with the remaining Grassroots divisions parading onto Clinton Raceway’s half-mile oval in Races 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12.