Trotters took centre stag during the Tuesday night card of harness racing at Truro Raceway on Tuesday, July 8, with two- and three-year-olds in action and showing some serious talent.

Two-year-olds tussled early on the card in a pair of $10,480 divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes.

Dusty Lane Margo made every call a winning one for driver Jason Hughes in her pari-mutuel debut, holding off the late charge of pocket-popping Emberlees Rocket (Corey MacPherson) by a neck for the narrow victory in 2:07. Nikway Rocks It (Myles Heffernan) rounded out the top trio.

Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. owns Dusty Lane Margo (E L Rocket - Muscle Mannequin) after paying $17,000 for the filly at the 2024 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale. Ashley Gamester handles the training on the brown lass, who paid $7.10 to win.

West River Karuna sat the pocket for driver Kenny MacDonald for the first three-eighths of the mile in his AtSS test, came first up to challenge tempo-setter Roseys El Girl (Hughes) just before the 1:03.3 half and then cleared that rival at the 1:33 three-quarter mark. Through an impressive :59.3 back half, West River Karuna held off a threatening Little Louis (Corey MacPherson) by a quarter length for the 2:03.1 decision. Mr Old Home Week (Ryan Desroche) was best of the rest in third.

Clare MacDonald handled the breeding, and now handles the conditioning of West River Karuna (Legion Of Honour - Panacotta Hanover) for daughter and owner Haley MacDonald of Stratford, P.E.I. Winning his debut, West River Karuna paid $8.90 to win.

Oceanview Nikki raced boldly in the first $10,380 AtSS division for three-year-old trotters, but a 2-5 choice has a reason to be brazen. As Fire The Rocket (Hughes) fronted the field of five, Oceanview Nikki commenced a first-over grind for trainer-driver Mike McGuigan just after the :30.4 quarter, continued to pressure the leader through middle fractions of 1:01.1 and 1:30.4, then eventually wore down that pacesetter in the final strides of a game 2:00.1 tally to prevail by a half length. Dusty Lane Gus (Desroche) just missed nosing out Fire The Rocket, and had to settle for third.

That's the first win of the year and fifth lifetime for Oceanview Nikki, and fifth lifetime tally for the daughter of E L Rocket - King Kong Kate. She's owned by P.E.I.-based Blue Diamond Racing of Emyvale, Josh MacDonald of Little Pond and Gordon Coles of Charlottetown. With the win, where she returned $2.90, she lifted her career earnings to $47,447.

West River Jet ($2.80; pictured above) provided the stakes double for Team MacDonald in the second AtSS for the sophomores, sitting third for driver Kenny as even money second choice Supreme Rockette (McGuigan) set the early tempo of :29.2 and 1:01.1. MacDonald gave the 2-5 favourite his cue down the backside, and tucked back in behind the leader through a 1:31.3 third station. In the stretch, MacDonald angled back out for a second crack at Supreme Rockette, and measured his shot perfectly to score by 1-1/2 lengths. Dusty Lane Kahlua (Desroche) completed the triactor ticket.

Clare MacDonald trains and Haley MacDonald owns West River Jet (E L Rocket - Kaddy Angel), now a seven-time winner in his career with 12 top-three finishes (7-3-2) in 12 career starts. In those 12 starts, the brown gelding has stashed away $58,702 in purses.

For the full results from Tuesday's card of harness racing in Nova Scotia, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Truro Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)