Bernard McCallum trainees put forth a strong showing in Sunday afternoon's stakes action at Truro Raceway
, as they swept the top spots in the $10,800 Nova Scotia Series Stake for two-year-old pacing colts and dominated a division of the Carl & Marj MacKenzie Memorial Stake for three-year-old pacers.
In the Nova Scotia Series Stake, Putnams Storm and driver Todd Trites swept to command from fifth after the :29.3 opening quarter and posted the half in 1:00, followed by three-quarters in 1:30.1. The grey Force Of Life gelding opened up two and a quarter lengths on the field in the stretch before hitting the wire in a career-best 2:00.4 over the 'good' track for an 11-1 upset. His stablemates, favourite Pondside Thunder (McCallum) and Athletic Putnam (Greg Munro), finished second and third. Putnams Storm, owned by Wesley Patriquin of Debert, N.S., paid $25.10 to win for the second time in seven career outings.
The McCallum-trained and Patriquin-owned Putnams Art romped to a 1:59.2 six and a half length victory in the first $7,907 colt division of the Carl & Marj MacKenzie Memorial Stake. The Southwind Balsam gelding now has eight wins in 23 starts in his debut season.
Maritimer stormed home from the backfield to nose out pacesetter The Eagle in 1:59.4 for Clare MacDonald and trainer George Rennison, and Howdidchado converted from the pocket to win the other colt division by a neck in 2:02.3 for trainer-driver Terry Gallant.
In the filly splits, Honey Do Jigtime recovered from an early break and came on to nose out Diamond Coast for a 1:59.4 win for trainer-driver Clare MacDonald, while Charolettes Maggie battled on top with Moon Landing before kicking away by four lengths in the stretch to win in 2:01.2 for driver Shane Bernard and trainer Tom Weatehrbie.
In regular racing action, the Danny Romo-trained Oakmont and driver Kenny Arsenault won this week's $1,225 Winners Over Handicapped Pace in 1:57.4 off a pocket trip.
For results from Sunday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.