Malevolent was never better than he was on Monday, Aug. 11 in the Atlantic Sires Stakes (ATSS) for three-year-old pacing colts during Old Home Week at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The defending Atlantic Breeders Crown champion won the first $17,620 ATSS A division for trainer/driver Paul Langille and owners Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow, N.S. and Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner, N.S. At the start, Phil My Beer (Marc Campbell) fired to the front and was released by pole-sitter Malevolent before that heavy favourite re-moved to the lead at the quarter in :28.1. Malevolent then was relentless on the engine through splits of :56.4 and 1:25.2 before pacing away for the lifetime-best 1:52.3 victory. Phil My Beer finished second, 2-3/4 lengths back, with Moonfall (Brodie MacPhee) far behind in third.

Malevolent, a son of Malicious-Lady Kelleigh Anne, is now 12-for-17 lifetime with $116,333 in earnings. After winning nine of 10 races at two, all in stakes competition, he has won three of seven starts at three. He paid $2.10 to win.

The second $17,620 A division went to Bentley ($4.70), providing the highlight of a five-bagger for driver Marc Campbell. Bentley sat third through early panels of :27.3 and :56.3 before moving first up and marching alongside pacesetter Rosetown Eclipse (Corey MacPherson) at three-quarters in 1:26.2. He then went clear to win by two lengths in 1:55.2, while Dilicious (James MacDonald) came up the passing lane for second with Rosetown Eclipse finishing third. 

John Clarey trains the winning son of Pang Shui-Western for owner Mike Clarey of Montague, P.E.I. Bentley won his sixth race of the year from nine starts. He is now eight-for-16 lifetime and has banked $38,007.

The $6,000 ATSS B divisions for three-year-old pacing colts went to Flamin Fredy ($2.40) in 1:56.4 for driver Brady Sweet and trainer George Rennison, Abiding Art ($4.90) for trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault in 1:57.3 and Big Pond Cash ($4) for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Landon Campbell.

Saulsbrook Rolo ($2.10) extended her perfection to four-for-four lifetime in the Cathy Gormley Memorial in race four with Marc Campbell driving for trainer Landon Campbell. The rookie Roll With Joe-Saulsbrook Alana filly, a two-time stakes winner, scored in a lifetime-best 1:55.2 for owner Carl Stafford of Conception Bay South, Nfld.

Pauls Crown ($2.10) won the race one Stu and Wilma MacLure Memorial in 1:56.3 for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Stanley Harper.

The Boyd MacDonald Memorial in race three went to Topville Angelina ($6.10) for trainer Ron Matheson and driver Gilles Barrieau.

Brookdale Thomas ($7.30) took the fifth race Greg Morris Memorial from the Phil Sizer barn with Ken Murphy in the driver’s seat in 1:56.2.

Almanac ($2.20) was the winner in the Lion’s Den Pace in race seven with a 1:56.3 effort for driver David Dowling and trainer Jennifer Doyle.

Trainer/driver Dowling won the race eight A & S Scrap & Metals Pace in 1:55.1 with Promise Me Later ($2.80).

The MacDougall Family Pace in race 10 went to Rockin Novel ($3.40) in 1:56.3 for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Roy Reynolds.

In Race 12, the Hennessey Equine Pace, Elm Grove Mistress ($3.40) prevailed in a 1:57.1 mile for a triple by driver Dowling and a double on the night for trainer Doyle.

Marc Campbell, on the strength of his five-win day, increased his seasonal win total to 113. He has a 15-win lead in the Charlottetown drivers' standings over Barrieau.

Live racing continues on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m., featuring the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies. 

The first $15,540 A division lines up in race six with Fallon the 5-2 morning line favourite from post four for trainer/driver Adam Merner and owner Not Two Stable of Cornwall, P.E.I. The Somewhere Fancy-All Lace filly has hit the board in all three career starts, with wins in her last two outings. Her main opposition will come from Mysterious Ways (Jason Hughes) from post one and Going For Blood (Arsenault) from post three.

Race 12 has the second $15,540 A division with Windemere Skye installed as the undefeated morning line favourite from the rail for trainer Earl Watts and driver Marc Campbell. The Somewhere Fancy-Howmac Missy filly, owned by Windemere Farms of Springvale P.E.I. and Matt Burke of Stratford, P.E.I., is three-for-three lifetime, including a 1:55.3 victory in her latest appearance. Beach Jewels (Barrieau) from post three and Saulsbrook Desi (MacPhee) from post two will look to hand Windemere Skye her first career defeat.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes program also features $6,000 B divisions for the rookie pacing fillies in races two, four, eight and 10.

Tuesday’s program begins with the Carolyn “Soup” Gormley Memorial in race one, followed by the Gordon Neill Memorial in race three. Other sponsored races include the Poulton Family Memorial in race five, the P.E.I. Energy Systems Pace in race seven, the Angela Roberts Smith Friends & Family Pace in race nine, the Paul Weeks Memorial in race 11 and the Kier Jones & Allie Carr Memorial in race 13.

The draw for the $100,000 66th edition of the Gold Cup and Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, will take place after race four on the Tuesday card.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.

(With files from Red Shores)