Chip Of Evil battled past rival Goodmorning Nova in the stretch to win the inaugural $50,000 Diamond Classic contested during Truro Raceway's stakes-filled season finale on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 29.
The richest race of the season in Nova Scotia, the Diamond Classic is a slot race for Maritime-sired two-year-old pacing fillies.
Driven by Corey MacPherson coming off a victory in the Maritime Breeders Stakes last weekend, 4-5 favourite Chip Of Evil left from post two with even-money second choice Goodmorning Nova racing alongside into the turn and taking over command down the backstretch through a :28.2 first quarter for driver Gilles Barrieau.
As the fillies swung in front of the grandstand to the half in :59.1, Lady Willa (Colin Sheppard) went first-over with A Girl Named Tom (Paul Langille) second-over and poised for a failed three-wide bid down the backside.
Goodmorning Nova continued clear on the front past three-quarters in 1:28.4 with Chip Of Evil stalking in behind. MacPherson launched his filly from the pocket for the stretch duel and Chip Of Evil prevailed by three-quarters of a length at the end in 1:57.4. Eenymeenyminymoe (Marc Campbell) closed from the backfield for third as the 45-1 longest shot on the board.
"My filly loves to chase, so unlike the Breeders Crown [Consolation], we kind of reversed roles and I came out on top this time," said MacPherson, referencing Chip Of Evil's second-place finish to Goodmorning Nova two starts ago. "It's a huge win. To win a race of that prestige and that kind of money is amazing."
Eddy Doucette trains the P.E.I.-sired filly by Arthur Blue Chip for his partners from the Inarush Stable of Kensington, P.E.I.
"She just loves to race and she's very easy to drive," added MacPherson. "Eddy always has her on top of her game."
Chip Of Evil, who has finished no worse than second in 10 career starts, earned her eighth win in the lucrative race, boosting her bankroll to $75,299.
The winning owners of the race also received a $2,500 diamond necklace courtesy of title sponsor Inglis Jewellers.
Chip Of Evil paid $3.80 to win.
Prior to the main event, the hot-handed MacPherson won three races in a row, including two other stakes. MacPherson worked out the winning trip in the $14,672 Carl & Marg MacKenzie Memorial Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies with his own trainee Rosetown Mary. They advanced into a gaping two-hole on the final turn and shot through the passing lane to catch the front-striding favourite, Saulsbrook Abbey, by a half length in 1:56.4. The homebred Pang Shui filly streaked to her fifth straight win for owners Kerry Taylor, Emily Taylor, Lisa Richards and Taylor MacPherson. Rock N Roll Cays finished 3-1/2 lengths behind in third.
Corey MacPherson also won a $7,580 division of the Phil Pinkney Memorial Stakes, formerly the Nova Scotia Stakes, for two-year-old pacing colts with Southfield Patrick. Owned and trained by Danny Campbell, the Arthur Blue Chip colt followed up his Maritime Breeders Stakes victory from a week ago with a 1:59.1 wire-to-wire score by two lengths over slight favourite Harry Holmes and Swordfromthestone.
While MacPherson reined home the most winners on the day, Paul Langille reigned at the meet. Langille wrapped up the Truro driving title with multiple winners from his own stable, including Good Omen, who romped to a 1:56.1 triumph in the $7,580 Pinkney division for two-year-old male pacers, nearly doubling his margin to 9-1/2 lengths through the stretch. The Betterthancheddar gelding is owned by breeder Rosanne Langille and Ellie Driscoll. The Vicar finished second over Reassurance.
Paul Langille earned his 31st driving victory of the meet to top all reinsmen with Batterup Hanover leading wire-to-wire in 1:54.4 in the $2,500 Winners Over Pace, topping American Risk and Well Did. The five-year-old Betting Line gelding competes for Debbie Francis, Rosanne Langille, Douglas Lowthers and Chantel Langille.
Trainer Clare MacDonald swept the top two spots in the $6,530 Pinkney two-year-old trot with fillies West River Ivory and Saulsbook Cami. West River Ivory, driven by Kenny MacDonald, led all the way in 2:04.2 to top her stablemate and trainer by one length, with Incredible Willie completing the field. MacDonald's daughter Haley owns the winning filly by Wheeling N Dealin.
In the $6,090 three-year-old trot division, trainer/driver James Ripley's homebred Tad The Stud gelding Majian Blazes toured the Truro oval in a 2:12.3 walkover held prior to the betting card.
The 2023 meet concluded with an exciting finish in one more stakes event as Proudofyatoday pulled off an upset in the $15,172 MacKenzie division for three-year-old male pacers. Marc Campbell worked out a perfect pocket trip aboard the 10-1 shot and defeated the favoured pacesetter, Malignity, by half a length in career-best 1:56.2 at the wire, with Evil Vintage closing late for third. Keith Ford trains and co-owns the Pang Shui gelding with breeders Gordon, David and Douglas Lee Neill.
Top trainer honours went to George Rennison, who added a pair of victories to his meet-leading win count during Sunday's 12-race card and ended with 23. Paul Langille ended the meet in second-place for training wins with a triple on Sunday pushing his total to 18 while Darren Crowe added a win of his own to bring his third-place total to 12.
Trites, teaming Rennison's duo to victory lane on Sunday, finished second to Langille in the driver standings with 23 while Crowe was third with 18.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.