Favourites Fall In Atlantic Sires Stakes
A pair of $12,920 ‘A’ divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies went postward Thursday evening at the Charlottetown Driving Park, and in both instances the favourites failed to find their way to victory lane.
Bellafornow was a front-stepping winner in the first division for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald.
The daughter of Ameripan Gigolo-Bucksforcody rolled the group through panels of :29.4, :59 and 1:28.4 before using a :29.2 closing quarter to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Na Naa Said So in 1:58.1. Woodmere Nasha was third.
After failing to win in her first two assignments, Bellafornow has answered with back-to-back wins. She’s put away more than $12,000 to date for MacDonald and partner Dan Kaiser.
Watch Me Dance used come-from-behind tactics to spring the mild upset in the second division for driver Mark Bradley and trainer Stephen Quinn.
The daughter of Ameripan Gigolo-Mcdaisy Cutter got away sixth while the odds-on favourite Saulsbrook Ocean shot to the lead and supplied panels of :28.4, :58 and 1:28. Watch Me Dance picked up one position at the half, and she had to go first over in the backstretch. She was three lengths away from the leader at the three-quarter pole, but she used a :29.2 closing quarter to stop the clock in 1:58. She was 1-1/4 lengths better than runner-up Saulsbrook Ocean. Grabbed the third prize was Woodmere Skyroller.
John Quinn, Stephen Quinn and Ozzie MacKay share ownership on the filly who now boasts a 2-2-0 record from five attempts while pushing her lifetime earnings over $15,000.
A trio of ‘B’ divisions for the fillies also went postward Thursday evening, with Ubettimagoodone (2:00.1) scoring for driver Mark Bradley and trainer Jeff Lilley, Lorne Valley Barb (2:01.3) prevailing for driver Myles Heffernan and trainer Gerald MacDougall and Live And Let Di (2:03) capturing the final division for trainer/driver Marc Campbell.
In this year’s edition of the $2,500 Joe & Wal Hennessey Memorial, Jeb came on strong in the late stages of the mile and posted a 1:55.4 clocking. He drew clear late and won by 2-1/4 lengths over Forever Paradise. Third prize went to Stars Above.
Jason Hughes mapped out the winning trip for the son of Camluck-Treasure who hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Kevin Gillis.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.