Clements hits grand slam on comeback tour

Harness racing driver Daniel Clements recorded his first four-win day in more than seven years at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday (Jul. 9).

The reinsman piloted two-year-old Mighty Mary (Hes Watching) to a debut victory against older horses to open his account. The filly took an initial mark of 1:59.2 for trainer Jason Libby and owners Douglas Dunbar and Gary and Joyce Gonyou.

Clements smartly re-tucked with Southwind Maritime (Sportswriter) after a second-quarter advance and saved the mare’s spurt for the stretch, when she rallied to a half-length win in 1:56.1. Cameron McQueen owns and trains the five-year-old, who has nine wins and a $50,793 bankroll from 63 career tries.

With two races to go, Clements gave Barrys Shelby (Mach Three) a pocket trip and sealed the deal with a third-panel pop and grind to the front to take the victory in 1:57. Ryan Clements, Daniel’s son, co-owns the gelding with Ashley Kerr. Lindsey Kerr conditions the 10-year-old with 30 wins in 267 starts and earnings of $246,391.

Wisk Key K (Bettors Delight) fired out from post nine for Clements in the finale, battled The Loan Ranger (Garrett Rooney) into the final quarter, and stayed steadfast to the line to complete Clements’s quadruple in 1:56.3. The Stewart McQueen-trained four-year-old is now 15-for-44 lifetime with $59,795 in earnings. Lou Sorella and Donald MacLellan co-own him with the trainer.

The four-victory performance was Clements’s first since he did it on Jun. 26, 2015 at Tioga Downs. Clements returned to the sulky this year after a six-year retirement. He began exclusively at the Sarnia oval but has visited other Ontario B tracks. He has won 2,564 races and driven horses to more than $20 million in purses from 17,524 starts.

Hiawatha Horse Park continues with its Saturday schedule on Jul. 16.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink