All Turain Repeats In Ferguson Memorial
All Turain defended his title in the $7,500 J.A. Ferguson Memorial Invitational Pace on Saturday afternoon at Northside Downs while Jann Down stamped herself as the top two-year-old pacing filly in the Atlantic Sires Stakes.
All Turain, the 2013 Ferguson Memorial champion, went wire-to-wire in 1:54.3 in this year's edition for back-to-back wins in the event. Mach Wheel advanced first over and finished one and a half lengths behind in second with pocket-sitter Junebugs Baby following in third.
Mike Stevenson was in the sulky and Wade Sorrie trains the five-year-old Tell All gelding, who now has three wins in a row and eight in 11 starts this year. Lee Hicken of Charlottetown, P.E.I. and Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile, Que. are the winning owners.
Jann Down concluded the Atlantic Sires Stakes regular season with a victory in Saturday's leg, cementing her place atop the divisional point standings. The homebred Articulator filly earned her third ATSS win in a $9,740 "A" division, nosing out Dusty Lane Bria in a career-best 1:59 flat. Three Pink Bows finished three lengths behind in third.
Jann Down was driven by Gilles Barrieau for trainer Stephen Mason and the Downey Stables of Quispamsis, N.B. She now has six victories and three seconds in nine starts for $30,809 in purse winnings.
Another daughter of Articulator, Swift Taylor took the other division with a 2:00.4 maiden-breaking effort for trainer/driver Stevenson and owners Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud, P.E.I. and Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I. She fought off top filly Woodmere Articblue and prevailed by two and a half lengths over Casa Miasa and Ubettowin.
Atlantic Sires Stakes action returns to the North Sydney oval next Saturday when the two-year-old pacing colts meet for competition.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.