Hopthroughit and Miss Gracie Ridge won a pair of Phil Pinkney Memorial Stakes for Nova Scotia-foaled or owned trotters at Truro Raceway on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 25.
Clare MacDonald trainees Hopthroughit and Redland Trixie swept the top two spots in the $8,860 Phil Pinkney Memorial Stakes for two-year-old trotters.
After watching his filly stablemate Redland Trixie and Clare MacDonald battle past pacesetter I Dream Of Muscles into the stretch, 1-9 favourite Hopthroughit hopped out of the pocket and rallied three-wide to go by in rein to MacDonald's husband Kenny. Hopthroughit prevailed over Redland Trixie by one length in 2:04 with I Dream Of Muscles (James Ripley) settling for third and Smokin Rocket (Corey MacPherson) rounding out the quartet.
A multiple Maritime stakes winner, the Muscle Through It-Hop Up colt has a scorecard of 4-5-2 in a dozen outings with earnings on the verge of $45,000 for owner James Douglas Campbell of Brookdale, N.S.
Trainer Ambyr Campbell's filly Miss Gracie Ridge won the $7,960 Pinkney Memorial division for three-year-old trotters, which was held as a non-wagering race prior to the program.
With Darren Crowe picking up the catch-drive, Miss Gracie Ridge gave way to West River Karuna and Clare MacDonald at the quarter pole before re-taking the lead in the stretch to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths for a new lifetime mark of 2:01.2. Oceanview Banjo (George Rennison) completed the field.
The Run Director-R Rocket Rachel filly foaled in Antigonish, N.S. was also a Pinkney Memorial freshman winner when facing the same competitors last year. She earned the first victory of her sophomore season in 12 starts and is now four-for-20 lifetime with $33,610 in earnings.
In regular racing action, Bettor On Than Off and driver Robert Laffin were repeat winners in the $2,500 Winners Over Handicap Pace for trainer/owner Danny Romo. Sent postward as the 4-5 favourite, the seven-year-old Bettors Delight-Lights Go Out gelding circled the quintet of top pacers, journeying first-over to wear down leader Bronx Drifter (Keith Legge) for the 1-3/4-length victory in 1:55 flat, pushing his seasonal win count into the double digits. Blazing Cats (Darren Crowe) followed from the pocket well back in third.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Hopthroughit winning on Oct. 25)