Mcapulco continued his East Coast win streak with another triumph in the $7,500 Exhibition Cup Invitational, which closed out a stakes-filled program on Saturday evening at Truro Raceway.

Driver Gilles Barrieau found a spot for Mcapulco in the pocket behind the leading Firethorn (Walter Cheverie) while Oakmont (Danny Romo) settled away third after an early battle on top in the feature event.

Firethorn led the field of nine past opening fractions of :27.2 and :57 before beginning to feel the pressure from first over attacker Arabica (Kenny Arsenault). The favourite advanced from fourth and matched strides with the leader as they raced by the 1:26.4 third quarter station. Arabica edged out in front into the stretch with three-year-old All Turain (Marc Campbell) rallying wide off his cover and Mcapulco slipping up the pylons.

Unleashing a :28.4 final frame, Mcapulco got up in the final strides to prevail in 1:56 flat by a neck over All Turain. Arabica finished three-quarters of a length back in third with Firethorn forced to settle for fourth.

Mcapulco, champion of the Walter Dale Memorial Invitational and the Governor's Plate, paid $4.30 to win as the slight second choice. The seven-year-old son of Mcardle is trained by Jackie Matheson for owner Patrick Morris of Charlottetown.

Junebugs Baby continued his dominance in the Atlantic Sires Stakes program with 1:57 triumph in the first of two $9,380 'A' divisions on the program for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

With regular reinsman Greg Sparling in the bike, Junebugs Baby established the lead from post two and reached the opening quarter mark in :28.2. During the second panel, Astronomical Union (Marc Campbell) advanced first up from fifth and applied heavy pressure to the leader past the half in :58.4 before edging ahead at the 1:27.3 third quarter mark. However, Junebugs Baby fought back and drew clear down the lane to win by one and a quarter lengths. Astronomical Union stayed for second while Putnams Storm (Todd Trites) finished second off a pocket trip.

Junebugs Baby paid $2.50 to win as the overwhelming favourite. The Western Paradise-Carols June Bug colt now boasts six win in seven starts this year, including all four ATSS events he has competed in and the Maritime Breeders Final. Trainer and breeder Fraser Turnbull of Dominion, N.S. co-owns the colt with John Turnbull Jr. of Glace Bay, N.S.

The fastest 'A' division went to Touch Of Lightning, who converted from the pocket to stop the clock in a career-best time of 1:55 flat for trainer-driver Earl Smith.

The Articulator-Aquatic Lightning colt followed eventual third place finisher Mr Thompson (Mike Stevenson) through fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:26 while Putnams New Year (Todd Trites) advanced first up from fourth. Mr Thompson and Putnams New Year battled head-to-head into the stretch, but Touch Of Lightning used a :28.4 final frame to prevail over the duo by half a length.

Touch Of Lightning paid $4.50 to win as the bettors' choice. The victory was his third in 10 seasonal starts and first in ATSS action after finishing second in all three of his prior sires stakes starts, as well as the Maritime Breeders Final. He is owned by Islanders Peter Smith of Charlottetown, Donald Smith of Pownal, Gerald Morrissey of Vernon Bridge, and Larry Chappell of Marshfield.

Paradise Station and Onward Finesse won a pair of $2,500 'B' divisions earlier on the card in career-best clockings. Paradise Station (Western Paradise-Pancentralstation) converted from the pocket to win his division in 1:57.4 with Bernard McCallum in the bike for trainer Lloyd MacLean and owner Andrew MacLean of Inverness, N.S. Driven by Mike Stevenson, Wade Sorrie trainee Onward Finesse (Western Paradise-On Patrol Finesse) romped to an eight length victory in 1:59.3 for owners Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud, P.E.I. and Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Truro Raceway.