Grassroots & driver’s challenge wraps up Clinton

SEPT. 4, 2016 – Clinton Raceway wrapped up its 2016 season with the 36th annual Driver's Challenge and the last regular season Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots event for the harness racing three-year-old pacing fillies.

Although he did not win one of the four Grassroots divisions, driver Doug McNair earned the second Challenge title of his career, edging out rival Trevor Henry by three points. McNair's best Grassroots finish came in the first $18,000 division, when he guided Heavenly Bet to a runner-up effort behind Icthelight Hanover.

Starting from Post 3, driver Jody Jamieson sent fan favourite Icthelight Hanover straight to the front and the filly rolled along through fractions of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:28 before hitting the wire two lengths on top in 1:57. Guelph, ON resident McNair and Heavenly Bet were second and Dancin Inthe Nude was third for driver James MacDonald.

"That was the first time I've ever driven her, so it was a nice ride," said Moffat, ON resident Jamieson. "She handled the track real good and simply jogged."

Jamieson piloted the daughter of Big Jim and Ifyoucouldcwhati C to her first sophomore Grassroots win for trainer Luc Blais of Lochaber Ouest, QC and Determination of Montreal, QC. The win will give Icthelight Hanover an opportunity to extend her three-year-old Ontario Sires Stakes campaign through the Sept. 16 Grassroots Semi-finals at Mohawk Racetrack.

The second Grassroots division went to fan favourite Maxim Seelster and driver Bob McClure, who also employed front-end tactics to secure the 1:57 victory. Local filly Top Royal, owned by trainer Heather Toll of Seaforth and Brydown Farms Inc. of Clinton, finished one and three-quarter lengths back in second with Phil Hudon in the race bike and McNair was third with More Than Many.

"She was really very push button. She couldn't have had anything else go her way, she just had everything absolutely in her favour," said McClure, who crafted the Big Jim daughter's second Grassroots win for trainer Rene Bourassa of Fergus and M & S Stable Inc. of Rockwood, ON. "Also I think a bunch of them at the back got roughed up, but she had lots left coming to the wire, for sure."

McClure enjoyed the Driver's Challenge, in spite of the fact that he did not take home the title.

"It was a lot of fun; we all had a lot of fun. I think Doug cheated," said the Elora, ON resident with a laugh. "They had a big crowd too."

A third front-end effort and another 1:57 result came in the next division for driver Phil Hudon and Glorious Delight. The filly cruised home two and one-half lengths ahead of McClure and Bettys Bay and McNair and Northern Prima.

"I didn't know much about her so I took a shot leaving and landed front, had good fractions and everything worked out," said Guelph resident Hudon. "She seemed like a nice filly."

Hudon piloted Glorious Delight to her second Grassroots victory for trainer Dustin Jones of Waterdown, ON and owner-breeder Emerald Highlands Farm of Mount Vernon, OH. Like Icthelight Hanover and Maxim Seelster, the Bettors Delight daughter will finish among the top 20 point earners and advance to the post season.

The final Grassroots winner, Selling The Dream will also appear in the Sept. 16 Semi-final. In rein to Challenge runner-up Trevor Henry, Selling The Dream sat behind pacesetter Killean Finale through fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:27 and then sprinted down the stretch to a head victory in 1:56. Killean Finale and Jason Ryan settled for second and James MacDonald piloted Trilife to third.

Dean Wall conditions Badlands Hanover daughter Selling The Dream for Donald and Sheila Murray of Kincardine, ON. A Grassroots winner at two, Sunday's win was the filly's first in Ontario Sires Stakes action this season.

The top 20 point earners from the six regular season Grassroots events will now begin preparations for the Sept. 16 Semi-finals. The top five finishers from each Semi-final earn a berth in the $50,000 Grassroots Championship at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 24.

Ontario Racing