Two freshman fillies stamped themselves as early stars of the Atlantic Canada stakes scene on Thursday, July 17 at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway, each turning in dominant performances in $18,750 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold divisions for rookie pacing fillies.

Saulsbrook Rolo ($2.20), coming off a strong debut victory, delivered another sparkling performance in her Gold split, wiring the field by two lengths in 1:56.3 with trainer-driver Marc Campbell at the lines for owner Carl Stafford of Conception Bay South, N.L. The Roll With Joe-Saulsbrook Alana filly controlled every step of the mile, cutting fractions of :28.4, :57.4, and 1:27.2 and repelling all challengers with a :29.1 sprint home. We Danced Anyway (David Dowling) was a solid second while Maid To Play (Ryan Desroche) completed the triactor ticket.

The earlier Gold division went to Windemere Skye ($2.40), who also fronted the field through splits of :28.4, :59, and 1:28.2 en route to a 1:57.2 victory for Campbell, trainer Earl Watts, and owners Windemere Farms of Springvale, P.E.I. and Matt Burke of Stratford, P.E.I. The daughter of Somewhere Fancy-Howmac Missy was never threatened and remains perfect in two starts through her early stakes campaign. Saulsbrook Desi (Brodie MacPhee) finished second, 2-3/4 lengths behind, with Going For Blood (Kenny Arsenault) third.

The 14-dash program also featured five Grassroots divisions of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies, each carrying a purse of $9,375.

The winners included Fallon ($5), an eye-catching front-end winner in 1:58 for driver-trainer Adam Merner and the Not Two Stable in Race 12, as well as Mysterious Ways ($2.70), who made every call a winning one in 2:00.4 with Jason Hughes driving for trainer Stephen Quinn and owners John and Anna-Grace Quinn in Race 1.

Exhilarating ($6.80) held on gamely in 1:59.4 in another Grassroots contest in Race 5 for trainer-driver Darryl MacLean, who co-owns with Gordon MacLean and Stephen Downey. In the second split, All Bets On Leigh ($14.90) pulled the upset in 1:59.3 with Myles Heffernan Sr. in the bike for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Karine Aucoin. Blood Magic ($15.70) won the penultimate Grassroots division in 2:01 for trainer-driver Mike Downey and owner Dr. Mitchell Downey. His sire, Blood Money, is entered into the Governor's Plate on Saturday.

Marc Campbell had a driving triple on the program to move into third place in the seasonal drivers' standings at 20 wins, behind Corey MacPherson and David Dowling, who are tied in first with 22 victories.

Live racing continues Friday evening at Red Shores Summerside with an 11-dash card starting at 6 p.m., featuring the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Summerside Raceway.

(With files from Red Shores; photo of Saulsbrook Rolo winning on July 17)