On Sunday (Oct. 21), Truro Raceway hosted an anticipated 12-race program that included a pair of Maritime Breeders Stakes finals for juveniles and a Nova Scotia Stake for the ‘glamour boys.’
Although divisional stalwart Magical Mistress ($2.90) was bet down to 45 cents on the dollar, the Camystic bay had her hands full in the $27,000 Maritime Breeders Stakes (Race 7). She was forced to overcome both a Post 8 start and persistent pressure on the engine in order to get the job done and stretch her career unbeaten streak to 11.
After having been sent postward with full support of the public, Magical Mistress shrugged off her outside post and charged out confidently. The Stephen Gass-trained and Adam Merner-driven bay had aspirations for the point, but she would have to earn it.
After having been outside in fourth past the 28-second opening quarter, Magical Mistress settled down to the pylons in the second panel and went on to click off the half-mile timer in :58.1. The homebred of Barry Martin (of Sydney, NS) did not have the luxury of relaxing on the engine, though, as the Marc Campbell-driven Ma Rebelle was out and attacking from third.
Magical Mistress and Ma Rebelle raced harness to harness past the 1:28.2 three quarters and into the stretch, as neither of fillies was willing to give an inch. The duel continued all the way to the wire, and when all was said and done, it was Magical Mistress that recorded a hard-fought, quarter-length victory in 1:59.1. Ma Rebelle reluctantly settled for second, while the Walter Cheverie-driven Therealdeal, who had started from the rail and had taken a pocket ride through the fractions, finished third, just a half-length short of the winner’s circle.
Sunday’s win was the richest of Magical Mistress’ 11-race career, as the winner’s share of the purse pushed her overall bankroll to $66,960.
After having been sent away as the public’s 4-1 third choice, the Gilles Barrieau-trained and driven Red Dirt Boomer turned a pocket trip into a quarter-length, 1:58.3 victory in the $22,500 Maritime Breeders Stakes (Race 10) for freshman pacing colts and geldings.
Barrieau and the Malicious colt started from Post 1 and allowed the Marc Campbell-driven Notorious to settle on the point after a Post 8 start and click off the first timer in 28 seconds. Barrieau and Red Dirt Boomer maintained their advantageous position in the second quarter, as a trio of overland horses began to work on the outside before the :57.4 opening half.
Dusty Lane Cortez was leading the charge on the outside and was within striking distance of Notorious in the third panel and past the 1:27.3 three quarters pole. Dusty Lane Cortez soon felt the effects of his trip, though, as the field hit the head of the lane. The development on the outer tier allowed Barrieau and Red Dirt Boomer to get free in the lane and pass Notorious.
Red Dirt Boomer went on to notch the quarter-length victory over the Darren Crowe-driven A Grand Terror, who had come on after having been fifth at three quarters pole. Nortorious hung on to finish third, just one length in arrears of the victor.
Red Dirt Boomer has now won six of his 12 career starts (including three third-place finishes) for owner Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I. Courtesy of the victory, Red Dirt Boomer’s career bankroll now sits at $41,403.
The card’s stakes action had kicked off in Race 4, as a field of six sophomore pacing colts lined up for the Nova Scotia Stake, which offered a total bounty of $8,560.
After having not earned a purse cheque in his last two starts – one of which was in the Atlantic Breeders Crown – Blackriver Ripper ($16.20) wasn’t shown a lot of love from the wagering public, even though he was set to line up in the coveted rail spot. The son of Western Paradise was on his ‘A’ game this afternoon, though, as the bay paced to a wire-to-wire win in 1:58.1 for pilot Todd Trites.
Blackriver Ripper – who is trained by his breeder/owner, John MacLellan, of Mabou, NS – cut the speed in :28.4, :59.1 and 1:28.4 and kicked home in :29.2 to record the quarter-length victory. Rockin Party (Danny Romo), who had started from Post 2, took a pocket trip through the mile but just missed at the wire to finish second. Howmac Diamond (David Dowling) raced second over in the mile and wound up finishing two and three-quarter lengths in arrears of the victor. String Busters, the Ernie Laffin-driven post-time choice, had raced first up through the mile, but ultimately succumbed to his trip and finish off the board in fourth, six lengths behind Blackriver Ripper.
After 25 seasonal starts, Blackriver Ripper has now compiled a 2018 resume which reads 8-2-1 with $10,581 in purses. The colt’s win time of 1:58.1 was also a new life’s mark. From 32 career starts, the bay has recorded eight wins, four second-place finishes and a lone third, good for $11,281 in earnings.
The Sunday program also featured a $1,675 Winners-Over Pace (Race 11), which was won by the favoured Post 1 starter Preceptor ($3.60), who scored a gate-to-wire victory for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Paul Langille in 1:58.1.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Truro, click the following link: Sunday Results – Truro Raceway.