The streak is at eight for three-year-old trotter Little Louis, a confident winner during an Atlantic Sires Stakes-stacked card of harness at Northside Downs on Saturday, Sept. 19.

On an overflow 19-dash card — 18 on the pari-mutuel side plus a non-wagering race before the betting — a total of nine Atlantic Sires Stakes events went postward in the final preliminary AtSS legs of the season. Saturday's card featured five divisions for trotters and four splits for rookie pacing fillies.

Little Louis ($2.10) came into Saturday's card with the most accomplished career resume among the stakes competitors and the son of E L Rocket-Go With Her didn't disappoint. Sent off as the overwhelming 1-9 favourite in his $10,000 AtSS division, Little Louis looped early leader Hoponarocket (Mike McGuigan) and cleared to the top for driver Corey MacPherson at the :29 opening panel. After fractions of 1:00.1 and 1:31.1, Little Louis sprinted home in :29.2 for the in-hand 2:00.3 decision. Hoponarocket was seven lengths back in second with Howmac Prime Time (Marc Campbell) next across.

Trained by Kuri White for breeder-owner East Coast Captains of Cornwall, P.E.I., Little Louis now sports a career summary of 18-2-0 in 20 career starts. The winner's share of the purse lifted his career earnings over the $136,000 mark.

Sophomore trotting fillies kicked off the stakes action before the card, with Bonmati the best in a $8,200 match race against Elusive Gal. The daughter of E L Rocket-Glidetowin was more than 27 lengths the best in 2:05.3 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer-owner Blayne White of South Pinette, P.E.I. 

After going winless in 10 appearances as a two-year-old, Bonmati is now 4-3-0 in seven sophomore starts and sports more than $66,000 in earnings.

Three $10,000 divisions for freshman trotters — two for colts and one for fillies — were part of the Saturday festivities and the divisional track record for colts was broken twice on the afternoon. Going into Saturday's card, Ticked held the 2:03.4 mark from a mile in 2017, and the name that many would expect to be connected with a record-breaking mile in this division would be Stunning Speed. But the unbeaten rookie was scratched sick from his division, leaving the door open for Maple Leaf Captain ($5.90) and driver Myles Heffernan Sr. to post a wire-to-wire win in 2:02.4 and set a new track record for two-year-old trotting colts. The son of E L Rocket-La La Hanover was more than 18 lengths better than Manfredi (Marc Campbell) with Smokin Rocket (MacPherson) in for third.

Jackie Heffernan of Summerville, P.E.I. owns and Myles Heffernan trains Maple Leaf Captain, who notched his first career win in seven starts.

The previous track record lasted for more than nine years. Maple Leaf Captain's record stood for about 40 minutes.

The third and final AtSS division for rookie trotters featured a front-end winner, but more of a tussle through the mile as Hopthroughit ($2.60) and trainer-driver Clare MacDonald repelled a persistent Shoe Dog Speed (Marc Campbell) to win by three parts of a length in 2:02.3 to take a tick off the mark set two races prior. Shoe Dog Speed stayed for second with I Dream Of Muscles (Jamie Ripley) watching the front pair to round out the triactor ticket.

James Douglas Campbell of Brookdale, N.S. owns Hopthroughit, a son of Muscle Through It-Hop Up with $30,419 in purses and a record of 2-5-1 in eight appearances.

The single $10,000 division for two-year-old trotting fillies went to Rockin Through It ($14.80) and trainer-driver McGuigan, who inherited second when 1-9 favourite Saulsbrook Disco (Marc Campbell) made a break on the lead just before the final turn and then took over the lead when Howmac Limerick (MacPherson) put in steps before the stretch. The daughter of Muscle Through It-Rockadero minded her manners and confidently trotted away to a 2:07.4 score. Howmac Limerick recovered to finish second, nearly six lengths back, with Early Speed (Heffernan) in the show spot.

Owned by Josh Macdonald of Little Pond and The Coles Stable of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Rockin Through It is now a two-time winner with $24,894 in purses earned.

Two-year-old pacing fillies competed in two $14,320 'A' divisions and a pair of $6,000 'B' divisions. Starship Daisy ($3.90) prevailed in the fastest 'A' division, with driver Marc Campbell starting a first-over attack on early leader Howmac Lula (Gilles Barrieau) at the 1:00 half, clearing after the 1:29.3 third quarter and pacing home in :29.2 for the 1:59 score. Redland Equinox (MacPherson) finished 1-3/4 lengths back in second, while Howmac Derry (Adam Merner) nabbed the show dough.

Trained by Earl Watts for owner Francis Poirier of Havre-Aux-Maisons, Que., Starship Daisy (Somewhere Fancy-Romance In Camelot) sports a solid 5-3-0 summary from eight starts with $53,366 stashed away in purses.

Woodmere Twigs ($6.60) sat the pocket for trainer-driver Merner in her division as Ys Fancy Speed (Marc Campbell) cut fractions of :29.3, 1:00 and 1:30. Heading out of the far turn, Merner got clearance to right-line his charge from the pocket and the filly obliged with powerful strides to collar Ys Fancy Speed and hold off the late blitz from Nauti Beach (Redmond Doucet) to win in 1:59.3.  Nauti Beach finished second, three parts of a length in arrears, with Ys Fancy Speed in for third.

A daughter of Blood Money-Very Ideal Hanover, Woodmere Twigs holds a 4-1-0 record from eight starts for owner Runningonempty of Stanhope, P.E.I. with $37,918 in earnings.

The 'B' divisions went to wire-to-wire winners Moolah (2:02.3; $2.60) and Starship Angela (2:03.3; $4.50).

Mappos Lion ($2.10) returned to Northside Downs for the first time since early July and picked up right where he left off: throttling his top class opponents. Driver Ryan Campbell asked the 1-9 shot to clear his four rivals down the backside, and he did through a :28.1 opening panel. Tested by Aragonite (Doucet) shortly after clearing, Mappos Lion appeared to revel in the challenge as he confidently marched through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.1 — up by five lengths here — and then closed in :28 without breaking a sweat to trip the timer more than nine lengths the best in a 1:55.1 drubbing. Aragonite stayed for second ahead of Alritealritealrite (Kevin Bailey).

Trained by Lee Collins for Hailee Currie of Rocky Point, P.E.I. and Carol Campbell of Baddeck, N.S., Mappos Lion is now 13-for-16 this year. Lifetime, the son of Sunshine Beach-Pacific Playmate is a 43-time winner just shy of $350,000 in career earnings.

For the full results from Cape Breton's card of harness racing on Saturday, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)