Stash It Away secured his second Atlantic Sires Stakes victory while divisional leader Fern Hill General faltered in the first turn as the regular season wrapped up for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 26) at Inverness Raceway.
Stash It Away, who gave Fern Hill General his first taste of defeat in the PEI Colt Stakes last weekend, took control of Sunday's $17,120 fifth Sires Stakes leg with the inside post advantage for driver Corey MacPherson. Soul Assassin (David Dowling) followed in second while Fern Hill General (Brodie MacPhee), one of two trailing tier starters in the eight-horse field, was third in the first turn when he broke stride and backed through the field.
Meanwhile, Stash It Away raced on to the quarter in :30.4 and half-mile in 1:02.4 while JJ Xavier (Mark Bradley) advanced from the backfield to apply pressure to the front-stepping favourite, with Brumby (Redmond Doucet) following his cover.
Stash It Away reached three-quarters in 1:34.4 with JJ Xavier looming to his outside. Fern Hill General, who had regrouped at the back of the field and was spotted third-over, charged three-wide as they raced down the backstretch the final time to get back into contention. Despite the divisional leader's impressive recovery, Stash It Away persisted on the front for the one-length victory in 2:02. He paid $4.10 to win.
Fern Hill General got up for second, but he was placed back to eighth for causing interference to multiple horses while off stride. Just behind the top two finishers, Soul Assassin edged out JJ Xavier, who finished with broken equipment, and those two inherited second and third-place.
Stash It Away has won three stakes races in a row and now has five wins from eight starts with earnings totalling $34,080. Kevin MacLean trains the Pang Shui-Allamerican Nappa gelding, who was a $17,500 yearling purchase at the Atlantic Classic Sale for Reginald MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I.
The Atlantic Breeders Crown Weekend of Championships will take place in two weeks, with the finals scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 10 at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Inverness Raceway's weekly $1,700 Winners Over was won by favourite Intended Royalty ($2.80), who romped to a 10-1/2-length victory in 1:56.4. Redmond Doucet drove the 10-year-old No Pan Intended gelding for trainer Randy Copley, who co-owns with Edward Copley. Dan Dar Mal (Alex MacNeil) and Thunder Alley (Myles Heffernan) rounded out the top three finishers.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.