Odds-on favourites Preeminence and High Roller Duke earned berths to next week's Kin Pace by way of wins in their respective eliminations on Sunday (June 28) at Clinton Raceway, while Marzannk Hanover parried the threat of an odds-on foe in her elimination.
The first $7,500 elimination of the Kin Pace, restricted to Ontario-sired three-year-old pacing fillies, saw Preeminence ($2.70) live up to favoured billing in the end, but she had her work cut out for her early on.
Away fifth in the field of six, the daughter of Sportswriter gave a 10-length head start to early pacesetter Coco Beach De Vie (Jody Jamieson) through a :29 quarter. With nine-sixteenths to go, Bob McClure slid Preeminence off the pegs, and after drifting to the three-path briefly on approach to the half in :58.2, she attacked in earnest on the second circuit. Preeminence struck the front nearing three-quarters in 1:28, put away Coco Beach De Vie, and did well to hold the second-over Highland Salsa (J Harris) at bay through the final turn.
Off the corner, Preeminence dismissed of Highland Salsa but faced an inside threat from Century Gianna (Scott Young), who narrowly escaped traffic trouble on the final turn. Preeminence was driven to prevail by a length over Century Gianna's late pursuit, while Highland Salsa maintained third after levelling off.
Marcel Barrieau trains Preeminence, who is now a three-time winner for the partnership of Claude Baril, Gilles Caouette and Michel Daneault.
In the second elimination, Glenview Livestock homebred High Roller Duke ($3.20) captured her third straight win, controlling every step of a 1:58.2 mile and scooting clear to a handy 2-1/2 length margin of victory.
The daughter of Bettors Delight forced a hard-leaving Fast N Relentless (Tyler Moore) into the pocket in a spirited first-turn duel and secured control of the terms through a :29 first quarter. On the far turn, Doug McNair was able to pull the tempo back, rating a 1:00 half before bracing for a first-over threat from Watch My Speed (Jamieson) on the second circuit. Mild outside pressure forced High Roller Duke to three-quarters in 1:29, but ultimately proved no threat. High Roller Duke coasted clear in the final furlong to a decisive score. Fast N Relentless saved second from the pocket, while Watch My Speed faded to finish third.
Marzannk Hanover ($7.40) was the only elimination winner to not go off the favourite, but she proved strong in parrying two challengers en route to a narrow 1:58.4 score.
Colin Kelly protected the pole with Marzannk Hanover on the first turn, and the pair forced 1-2 favourite Dreamdreamforme (Jason Ryan) and Tuggingoncredit (Tyler Moore) to draft behind early splits of :29.2, :58.4 and 1:28.4. Dreamadreamforme took her shot out of third midway up the backstretch and challenged on the final turn, but Marzannk Hanover shrugged her off nearing the eighth pole. As Dreamadreamforme faded, Tuggingoncredit had room to vacate the pocket she inherited, and she lunged forward with a sixteenth to go. Undeterred, Marzannk Hanover held her ground to the line, winning by a diminishing head while driven out. Tuggingoncredit was a clear second, 4 lengths better than Dreamadreamforme.
Kyle Bossence trains three-time winner Marzannk Hanover for Darryl Newbigging.
The top two finishers from each elimination are guaranteed spots in next Sunday's (July 5) $64,000 Kin Pace final, and will be joined by two third-place finishers to be drawn by lot on Wednesday (July 1).
Wagering remained strong at Clinton, with the 10-race card attracting a season-high handle of just under $77,000.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Clinton Raceway.
(with files from Clinton Raceway)