Saulsbrook Ocean made waves at Truro Raceway on Friday evening (Oct. 18) posting a 19-1 upset in the Maritime Breeders Stakes eliminations with a track record performance.
Trained by Joseph Baxter, the Westwardho Hanover daughter Saulsbrook Ocean lowered the track record for two-year-old pacing fillies by two-fifths of a second to 1:57.1. The former record was set last year in an Atlantic Sires Stakes division by Therealdeal, another Westwardho Hanover filly trained by Baxter.
Favourite Woodmere Skyroller led the field through fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:27.3 while Saulsbrook Ocean, who won the Island Breeders Championship two starts ago, made up an 11-1/4-length deficit and took command in the stretch. She then drew off by 3-3/4 lengths to set the new divisional track record. Na Naa Said So overtook Woodmere Skyroller for the runner-up honours.
Dale Spence drove the winner who now boasts a seasonal summary of 6-3-0 from 10 starts for owners Saulsbrook Stables Inc., Jennifer Baxter and Michael McKenzie.
Trained and driven by Marc Campbell, Ezra Express battled back when confronted by Woodmere Nasha to win the other filly elimination in 1:59.4, with It Took A Village finishing third. The homebred daughter of Ameripan Gigolo is owned by Danica Ellis.
High Five Racing Stable's Atlantic Breeders Crown champion Windemere Ryan rebuffed an Overbearing challenge to win the first elimination for two-year-old pacing colts in 1:58.4. With Walter Cheverie aboard for trainer Chris Davies, the Malicious gelding won by 2-1/4 lengths with Woodmere Rollhario and Here Comes Red finishing second and third, respectively.
In the second colt elimination, Island Breeders Championship winner Woodmere Rollnpop advanced first-up and drew away from pacesetter The Big Chase and pocket-pursuer Mr Kelly late to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:57.3. Clare MacDonald trains and drives the Rollwithitharry gelding for owners Morah Kerr and Phonsie MacEachern.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.