The 2010 Atlantic Breeders Crown weekend at Truro Raceway is now complete, with top marks going to a streaking horse, a hot driver, and a new track record holder
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A packed grandstand full of people witnessed red-hot Waiting On A Woman set a new track record for two-year-old trotters on Sunday afternoon. The homebred, owned by trainer Mitchell and David Tierney of Cornwall, PEI and driven by Corey MacPherson, won the $7,500 ABC Final for two-year-old trotters by more than 15 lengths in 2:01.3.
It was the fifth win in a row and eighth win in 10 tries for Waiting On A Woman (Northern Bailey - Southwind Faith), who lowered Defiant Looks' overall two-year-old mark by one-fifth of a second.
Five wins in a row is a fantastic accomplishment. Meridian Magic's victory on Sunday gave her 25 straight wins and puts her within three of reaching the immortal Cam Fella's modern day harness racing record of 28 straight wins for a pacer.
Kenny Arsenault took no chances with the Largo-Hot Aseet lass, using rail position to achieve the front end early and meter out sensible splits of :29.3, 1:01.2 and 1:32 before sprinting home in :29 to win by more than two lengths in 2:01.
James Gillis of Sydney, N.S. owns Meridian Magic along with breeder Barry Martin.
Terry Gallant made his trip to Nova Scotia worth his while, guiding Southfield Sam (PJs Nabby - Gold Pendant) to a mild upset win the $7,500 ABC Final for three-year-old trotters. Owned by Southfield Farms Inc. of Summerside, PEI, Southfield Sam was a three-plus length winner in 2:05.4.
Driver Mike Stevenson was in the sulky for half the major stakes wins. His first drive behind two-year-old pacing filly Our Lady Byng (Largo - Trade Name) in the $25,000 was a winning one for trainer Ken Arsenault and owners Peter Smith, Donald Smith, Gerald Morrissey, and Larry Chappell of PEI. Stevenson and Our Lady Byng went wire to wire in 2:01.2, just one fifth of a second off her lifetime best.
In the $25,000 two-year-old colt pace, Stevenson once again played catch me if you can but this time it was with a pacer from his own stable. Pictonians Souwest (Western Paradise - Southview Sasha), owned by Daniel Ross of Belfast, PEI, was more than six lengths better than his rivals en route to a shiny new speed badge of 1:58.2.
Ross & Stevenson teamed up in the $25,000 three-year-old colt pace event to close out the card, as Mr Salming (Coastocoast Yankee - First To Fly) coasted to a three-plus length score in 1:57.3 for trainer Gilles Barrieau and co-owner Boyd Macdonald Produce Ltd. of Crapaud, PEI.
“I’m not surprised by the win,” said MacDonald with a smile to the Truro Daily News. “He’s a good colt and I thought he could win if things went well for him in the race.
“It is great to win. I feel 100 per cent now. I don’t feel like sitting down to drive home now.”
On Saturday, the track featured a horse vs. man exhibition race. Local teenage track standout Nicholas Wood lost to pacer River Cane, who paced his mile in 2:08 while Wood ran one lap of the track in 2:10.03.
“Overall, things went really well,” said Truro's Joe Kelly. “Both the racing and the crowds were good. There wasn’t an empty seat in the grandstand and it’s a long time since we’ve seen that here.”
For Sunday's results, click here.