CLINTON, ON — Driver Jim McClure posted a pair of wins in Grassroots action at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon. The veteran reinsman piloted long shot Windsong Sheba to a surprising win in the fifth race and seven races later he was back in the winner’s circle with fan favourite Feathery Fame.
Starting from Post 8 with Windsong Sheba, McClure settled the two-year-old pacing filly on the rail in sixth, 10 and a half lengths behind leader Dutchess B, but was quickly able to close the gap as the pacesetter set a leisurely :30.2 pace to the quarter. McClure waited patiently as Dutchess B continued around the Clinton half mile in fractions of 1:01.1 and 1:31 and then burst out in the stretch to score the one length victory over Dutchess B and Individual Gal.
William McClure trains Windsong Sheba, who scored her second victory and first Grassroots win with the 2:01.2 effort. Harry Bytzek of King City bred and owns the filly, who returned $62.90 to win, $34.80 to place and $7.80 to show. Runner-up Dutchess B paid $19.90 to place and 419.50 to show while Individual Gal’s show price was a more modest $4.10. The exactor rang in at $119.80 and the triactor was a hearty $1,755.70.
Jim McClure’s second winner paid significantly less than the first as Feathery Fame came through as expected with a four and one-quarter length win in 1:59.4. The win was a first for the Apaches Fame lass trained by Gregg McNair for his mother Gwendolyn McNair of Walkerton. Going Coastal and Dilemma rounded out the top three.
Feathery Fame was the only favourite to deliver a win in the six Grassroots divisions Sunday. Missys Fame opened the afternoon’s festivities with an upset in the second race and set a pattern for the fillies that came behind her.
The Apaches Fame daughter went wire-to-wire to score the half length win over Apaches Angel in 1:59. Lucky Irma was two lengths back in third while favourite Twin B Goddess went off stride past the half and knocked herself out of contention.
Robert McClure drove Missys Fame to the win for owner-trainer John Bosworth of Newmarket. It was the first Grassroots start for the filly, who started her provincial career at the Gold level in July.
Pat Me Up moved to the top of the division point standings with her 1:59.4 effort in the fourth race. Greg Drew of Merlin owns, trains and drives the Gothic Dream miss, who has three wins and one second in Grassroots action and a third-place finish in a Gold Elimination on her resume.
In spite of her consistent record Clinton fans sent Pat Me Up off as their third choice, but she left favourite Up Front American and second choice Linguinincamsauce one length behind at the wire.
Race 6 was marred by an accident when pacesetter Change Of Address and favourite Walltowall Hanover tangled with each other at the top of the stretch. The only filly to avoid suffering interference in the mishap was Rhiannon O Rhye and as a result the Gypsys Hellion miss was first across the wire in 2:00 for owner Stephen Gillard of Tavistock. Dearest Dorothy was just two lengths back in second, while Date With Jate and the remainder of the field trailed home more than 17 lengths to the rear.
Fortunately the drivers involved in the accident were unharmed and to prove it Don McElroy came out and scored a victory in the next Grassroots division with Believe In Dreams. The A Stud Named Sue daughter coasted across the finish line nine lengths ahead of Dreams To Remember and Machfour Par Tees, stopping the clock in 1:59. Gino Cicero of Hornings Mills owns and trains Believe In Dreams, who boasts a record of two wins and one second in three Grassroots starts for a share of third-place in the division point race.
The freshman pacing fillies wrapped up Clinton Raceway’s 2002 season on Sunday, but have one regular season event remaining on their schedule — Oct. 18 at Kawartha Downs. As usual Clinton attracted large numbers of Ontario Sires Stakes contestants to its half-mile oval this summer and the provincial program looks forward to another successful season at Clinton Raceway in 2003 when a new group of two and three-year-old Standardbreds will be eager to make their mark in the history books.