Two-year-old pacing colt Dixieland Band defeated divisional point leader J J Romeo in a track record performance during their final preliminary leg of the Atlantic Sires Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Northside Downs.
Dixieland Band left from post five in his $7,460 "A" division and carved out fractions of :29.4, :59.1 and 1:28.3 en route to the 1:58.1 triumph, with favourite J J Romeo following four lengths behind off a pocket trip. Bngs Express trailed 12 lengths back in third.
The winning time was not only a personal best for Dixieland Band, but also lowered the track record for two-year-old pacing colts. Rancousy held the former colt mark of 1:59.3, although the overall male record of 1:57.1 is held by gelding Dumas Walker.
Kevin MacLean trains the Ameripan Gigolo-Divine Justice colt, who is riding a three-race win streak which began with his other Sires Stakes "A" division victory at Inverness Raceway on September 7. Dixieland Band has never missed the board in six stakes starts for nearly $15,000 in earnings. He is owned by Reginald MacPherson and David Mackenzie of Stratford, P.E.I. and Aaron Mackenzie of Winsloe, P.E.I.
Marc Campbell was the winning driver aboard Dixieland Band and also steered his own trainee Proven Desire (Proven Lover-Shark Like Lady) to a 2:00 victory over another top point earner, Camco Titan, in their "A" division, as well as Danny Campbell's homebred I Am Able (Ameripan Gigolo-Pownal Bay Randi) to a 2:02 score in the lone $2,500 "B" division. Proven Desire is owned by Blair Hansen and Meghan MacDonald of Charlottetown, P.E.I. and John Thomas of Dartmouth, N.S.
The Mike Stevenson-trained and driven Pictonian Basil (Western Paradise-Southview Selena) broke his maiden with a 2:02.1 mile in the other "A" split for owner Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I.
Saturday's 15-dash card also featured the $8,400 Nova Scotia Stake for two-year-old pacing fillies and Twirly (Impeccable-Fourinthemorning) dominated three rivals to earn her first career win in 2:04.2 for trainer Fred Saunders and owner Carrie Saunders of Truro, N.S. Danny Romo steered the filly in her third start to the upset win.
In regular racing action, Junebugs Baby was a dominant winner in the $1,100 top class with a 11-3/4 lead at the wire in 1:57.2. The five-year-old homebred son of Western Paradise had Myles Heffernan at the lines for trainer Fraser Turnbull of Dominion, N.S. and co-owner John Turnbull Jr. of Glace Bay, N.S.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.