McClure quadruples to reach milestone

Harness racing driver Bob McClure guided four harness racing horses to victory lane on the Friday (Nov. 29) card at Woodbine Mohawk Park to reach 3,500 career wins.

The reinsman opened his account in race two, pointing favourite Dirty Diana (Captain Crunch) to the front and going all the way. The rookie John Pentland-trained filly cut the mile and came home to score in 1:57.

McClure went back-to-back in races five and six. He rallied Twin B Tipster (Bettors Delight) from well back in seventh, and the eight-year-old mare surged in deep-stretch to win the fifth by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:55. Cheesy Smile (Betterthancheddar) kicked on down the lane after a stalled first-over advance and drew clear to prevail by a length in 1:55.1 for Pentland in the sixth.

Needing one more win for the milestone, McClure piloted Sorcha Seelster (All Bets Off), seeking her third straight, in the finale. The filly slingshotted out of sixth entering the final turn, rolling up to the leader’s wheel as they straightened for home, and she muscled clear to a length-and-a-half victory in 1:54.2. The performance completed a triple for the McClure/Pentland combination.

SORCHA SEELSTER REPLAY

McClure, in his 16th season, earned his 3,500th win in his 21,614th start. The 2020 Driver of the Year has steered horses to more than $51.5 million in earnings.

Woodbine Mohawk Park concludes its race week on Saturday, Nov. 30 with a 10-race card beginning at 7:10 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink