from the Ontario Sire Stakes

Toronto, ON — Sunday’s (July 8) rich finale at Clinton Raceway was the C$60,900 Kin Pace final. It saw the record-setting continue as heavy favorite Write Me A Song reeled off a gate-to-wire score in 1:54.3. Katniss S BG tucked in behind Write Me A Song at the start and crossed the wire 1-3/4 lengths behind the winner. Askmysecretary, who, like Write Me A Song, won her elimination last weekend, finished four more lengths back in third.

“Everything went well. It was a little tighter this week, but when you’ve got a final like that you’re going to go a big mile, it was a big effort,” said owner-trainer Jack Darling of the record-setting mile.

Mike Saftic piloted the 3-year-old pacing filly to the win, subbing for regular reinsman Jody Jamieson whose transportation arrangements fell through on Friday.

“He had this plan, it’s his son’s birthday party today, but he had a guy that was going to fly him to Clinton just for her race and then fly him back for the party, and then something happened that he couldn’t get the plane,” he said. “So I got Mike Saftic last night to come take over. It was lucky because Mike had driven her, I think, two or three starts ago (June 23) so he knew her. It worked out well.”

Sportswriter daughter Write Me A Song will make her next start in the July 20 Gold Series event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Clinton Raceway on Sunday, August 5 with the fourth Grassroots event for the 3-year-old pacing colts.

Complete results for the July 8 Kin Pace program are available at http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0708clntnn.dat.