Atlantic Breeders Crown champion Pictonian Amanda returned to the winner's circle after capturing her elimination for the Maritime Breeders Futurity on Sunday afternoon at Truro Raceway
. Five $3,000 freshman pacing eliminations -- two for the colts and three for the fillies -- determined the finalists for next weekend's championships.
Favourite Pictonian Amanda ($4.80), the divisional Atlantic Breeders Crown champion, was a wire-to-wire winner in the final filly elimination for driver Mike Stevenson and trainer Wayne Bell. The Western Paradise-Southview Sasha filly turned back a challenge from eventual fourth place finisher J J Maywest (Terry Gallant) past the three-quarters mark and held off Aprils Dawn Star (Kenny Arsenault) for the half length victory in 2:00.1. Rebel Enforcer (Walter Cheverie) was third.
Pictonian Amanda has now won half of her 10 starts while banking $30,764 along the way for owners Daniel Ross and Bill Bell of Belfast, P.E.I.
In an earlier filly elimination, the popular Malabrigo ($2.70) and trainer-driver Marc Campbell worked their way to the lead ahead of Oduya (Clare MacDonald) past the opening quarter and persevered over the persistent Cash An Clay (Kenny Arsenault) by a nose in 2:01.1. Oduya finished one and three-quarter lengths behind in third.
Greenoaks Farm of Mississauga, Ont. owns the daughter of Western Paradise-Lots Abunny, who finished second to Pictonian Amanda in the Atlantic Breeders Crown. She now sports a record reading 6-3-0 in nine starts with $29,643 banked.
Miss Mercedes ($15.20) and driver Earl Smith overcame an outside starting spot and rallied home from the back of the pack to win their filly elimination by a neck over the pocket-sitting Tobins Knockout (Mike Stevenson) in 2:01.2. Longshot Windemere Nancy (Marc Campbell) was just a half-length behind in third. Pacesetter Seeyouonthebeach (Darren Crowe) faded to fourth.
Smith also trains the homebred Astronomical-Island Rain filly for J. William Hogg of Charlottetown, P.E.I. The win was her second and fastest yet in seven lifetime starts. She now sports a bankroll totalling $3,908.
With Brodie MacPhee in the bike, Lyndale Royal ($8.10) romped to a five length victory during his two minute mile in the first of two colt eliminations. Island Lexus (Danny Romo) advanced first over to place while the popular pocket-sitter Dukes Up (Walter Cheverie) finished third.
Terry Affleck trains the Force Of Life-Royal Pursuit gelding, who finished third in the Atantic Breeders Crown last weekend in Charlottetown, for David MacDonald of Belfast, P.E.I. The win was his sixth in 10 career starts and lifted his earnings to $24,122.
Fresh off a victory in the Atlantic Breeders Crown Consolation, Junebugs Baby ($3.20) and driver Greg Sparling converted from the pocket to win the second colt elimination by a head over pacesetter Touch Of Lightning (Earl Smith). Pondside Thunder (Bernard McCallum) finished one and a half lengths behind in third.
Fraser Turnball bred, owns and trains the favoured Western Paradise-Carols June Bug colt, who is now five-for-six in his career with $9,363 banked. John Turnbull Jr. of Glace Bay, N.S. also shares ownership.
In regular racing action, St Lads Dagwood, one of the longest shots on the board at odds of 17-1 in the afternoon's $1,225 Winners Over Pace, converted from the pocket to prevail in 1:58.3 by half a length over pacesetter Dreams Matter (Bernard McCallum) and favourite Jepson Hanover (Danny Romo). Ernest Laffin drove the six-year-old Camotion gelding for trainer-owner Kenneth Greene of Kennetcook, N.S.
For results from Sunday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.