The second tier starting spot didn't deter the betting public from making Saulsbrook Feisty the 2-5 favourite in the $15,960 Phil Pinkney Memorial Stake, and that one length to make up off the start was no problem for the rookie pacing filly.
Northside Downs hosted the Pinkney Memorial (formerly the Nova Scotia Stake) as part of its Saturday afternoon card of harness racing on Oct. 14. Saulsbrook Feisty faced six rivals, and all of those rivals had their noses on the gate. Saulbrook Feisty had her nose on the helmet of Paul Langille, driving rail starter A Girl Named Tom.
Langille hustled out from the inside starting spot once the wings folded, and Redmond Doucet asked Saulsbrook Feisty to follow for early position. Worth Repeating (Keith Legge) crossed over quickly from post five and had the first call down the backside but Doucet had Saulsbrook Feisty up on the rim and advancing. Saulsbrook Feisty cleared through a :29 opener. Eenymeenyminymoe (Donnie Gillis) wasn't the only feisty filly on the card, challenging for command through a :59.4 half. Saulsbrook Feisty was dialed in, however, and easily repelled that rival to open up and hit the third station in 1:29.1. A :30 final panel was more than enough for Saulsbrook Feisty to find the wire first, with the mile timed in 1:59.1. A Girl Named Tom rode the pocket and stayed for second, 2-1/2 lengths back of the winner. Eenymeenyminymoe was best of the rest in third.
Saulsbrook Feisty (Big Jim - First Delight) is co-owned by trainer Carrie Saunders and Lois Saunders of Bible Hill, N.S. She paid $2.80 to win in her sixth victory of the season from nine starts, with $19,414 in lifetime earnings.
The John Hawco barn had a big day in Cape Breton as well, with three winners on the card. Hawco and Shawk Lynk connected for victories with Bet On Art (2:02.4, $22.20) in the second race and Lyndale Pixie (2:04; $23.90) in the fifth before Hawco and Zach Mullins teamed up for their third straight score in the $1,600 Winners Over Pace courtesy Revenant ($5.10). The nine-year-old son of If I Can Dream - Dragonfest made every call a winning one, stopping the clock in 1:58.4 in his 26th lifetime win.
Kyla Macdonald of Stanhope,P.E.I., Tyler Lynk of Port Morien, N.S. and Colby Lynk of Reserve Mines, N.S. share ownership on Revenant, now a lifetime winner of $59,823.
To view the results from the Saturday card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.