A Better Game fastest in Kin Pace elims

Clinton Raceway held three $7,500 eliminations for the 2021 edition of its signature event, the Kin Pace for Ontario-sired three-year-old pacing fillies, on Sunday.

A Better Game circled the field in the first – and fastest – split after a slow beginning.

Doug McNair restrained the filly to last from the start, and they went wide into the first turn. She was eight and a half lengths behind in a six-horse field through the first quarter mile in :28.2 and the half in :58.1. McNair urged her off the pylons on the third turn, and she flew three-wide past rivals down the backstretch and through the third quarter station in 1:28.4.

A Better Game completed her comeback as she overtook leader Sweet Pink (Jonathan Drury) turning for home and cruised to the finish in 1:56.4. Sweet Pink lost by three quarters of a length. Ms Meaghan Sparkel (Tyler Moore) was third. The winner paid $3.30.

A BETTER GAME REPLAY

A Better Game, a three-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar, began racing in 2021 and has won two of her seven starts. The Blake Macintosh trainee has now earned $22,456 for owners Macintosh, a resident of St. George, John Nizlek of Danbury, and Ridgeway Racing, which is based in Ridgeway.

Saulsbrook Olympia blew away her rivals in the second elimination despite missing the gate by a length.

She began last from post five for driver Brett Macdonald, who then ordered the filly to march two-wide to the top. Saulsbrook Olympia settled onto the lead prior to finishing the quarter in :28.4, and she took a second-quarter breather to the half in :58.1 before leaving her four rivals behind.

Havartiwon (Nick Steward) remained in striking range until Saulsbrook Olympia opened up a three-length advantage at three-quarters in 1:27.4, which she increased to seven going into the stretch. Macdonald was a passenger as Saulsbrook Olympia stormed home to win by four and a half lengths in 1:57.1. Divine Deo (James MacDonald) bridged the gap late and finished second. Havartiwon took show and a spot in the final.

SAULSBROOK OLYMPIA REPLAY

Saulsbrook Olympia paid $2.40 as the Big Jim filly captured her fifth lifetime win in eight starts and upped her bankroll to $20,871. Brian Lee trains for Saulsbrook Stables of Windsor (NS). The horse is undefeated in three starts in 2021.

Jackieofalltrades went wire-to-wire in the final elimination for her first win of the season.

She started significantly better than her fellow division winners and motored directly to the top as they rounded the first turn. The daughter of Betterthancheddar paced the first quarter in :29.1, and driver Robert Shepherd rated her to a :59.2 half time.

Treasures Gem (Ryan Desroche) made a first-up bid as the field of six passed the grandstand, but Jackieofalltrades quickly dismissed that foe, continued to three-quarters in 1:28.4, and sailed home for a length-and-a-quarter score in 1:57.1. Sports Duchess (McNair) rode the pocket to second. Bet Light (MacDonald) claimed the remaining place in the final as she finished third.

JACKIEOFALLTRADES REPLAY

Jackieofalltrades, a $3 winner, has made more than $36,736 and won two of her 12 career starts for Anthony Beaton of Waterdown, David Mercer of Westmount, and David Lumsden of Ancaster. Beaton trains the filly.

The post positions for the $58,300 Kin Pace Final are:
1 – Jackieofalltrades
2 – Bet Light
3 – Sports Duchess
4 – Saulsbrook Olympia
5 – A Better Game
6 – Havartiwon
7 – Sweet Pink
8 – Divine Deo
AE – Ms Meaghan Sparkel

The final is scheduled for Sunday, Jul. 4 at Clinton Raceway. Its name “pays homage to the early days of Clinton Raceway when the Kinsmen and Kinette Club introduced pari-mutuel wagering to the grassroots track in 1970,” according to the circuit’s website.

The oval also contested two divisions of the first leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Prospect Series for three-year-old colt pacers. The Prospect Series is the third tier of competition for Ontario-sired horses.

Watch My Beverage (McNair) enjoyed the pocket spot through the quarter in :28.1 and half in :58.1 before popping out nearing three-quarters in 1:28.2 and cruising to a 1:57.2 score. It was his third career victory in 11 tries for trainer Gregg McNair and owners Dean Lockhart, Jeffrey Ruch, and Paul Hawman. The son of Hes Watching has now earned $35,608.

Sauble Attack (Anthony Haughan) took the lead going to the quarter in :29, paced through middle splits of :59.2 and 1:29.2, and poured it on in the final quarter to win by three and three quarter lengths in 1:57.2. Otis Hall conditions the homebred Bettors Delight gelding for Sauble Hill Farms and Nasussito Racing Inc. The horse has won five of 11 career starts and has now earned $26,352.

First post on Jul. 4 will be at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink