Three-year-old pacers were out in full force at Truro Raceway on Sunday afternoon as the Nova Scotia half-miler hosted six $5,913 divisions – three for the girls and three for the guys - of the Carl & Late Marg MacKenzie Stakes
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The opening split for the fillies went to the streaking Semjac Legacy, who rallied for her fourth consecutive victory for trainer/driver Darren Crowe. The daughter of Western Paradise-Island Zazzle drew off to win by more than four lengths in a time of 1:59. Tammys Little Star was second best and Elm Grove Dallas rounded out the top three.
Iola Crowe, Murray Wayne Smith and Marlene Miller share ownership on the sophomore, who now boasts a 7-1-1 record in 13 starts this season. She has banked just over $29,000 to date.
A career-best clocking of 2:00 was turned in by Artistic Putnam in the second tilt for the gals. Danny Romo mapped out the winning trip with the Donald Seymour, Jr.-trained daughter of Southwind Balsam-Marellen Hanover, who won by more than a pair of lengths over Woodmere Humdinger. Moe Onthego grabbed the show dough. Seymour shares ownership on the seven-time winner with Fabian Morgan of Glace Bay, NS. The filly has put together a 5-2-3 record in 18 starts this season.
Kenny Arsenault guided Darko to a winning effort in the third division, and that pushed the Ralph Annear-trained filly’s win streak to five-in-a-row. The daughter of Largo-Norwell Lilyharbor drew off to win by more than five lengths over Chris N Tell Arrow and N Xample Deal in a time of 1:59.2. Annear holds the papers on the 12-time winner, who is 8-for-12 this season. The victory pushed her lifetime earnings over $90,000.
The big season continued for War Dancer, who front-stepped to a 1:59 triumph in the first division for the boys. The son of Western Paradise-Temples May Day chopped out panels of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:28.2 for driver Gary Chappell before finishing off his foes with a :30.3 final frame. Blackriver Wildcat was third-placed-second and Woodmere Fastball was fourth-placed-third. The pacer is now 2-for-2 since joining forces with Stacy Lund, who conditions the gelding for partners Daniel Ross, Charles Seymour and Boyd MacDonald Produce Ltd. In 15 starts this season the pacer has put together a 11-3-0 record while banking over $47,000.
The win streak is now four-in-a-row and counting for Ultimate Success, who romped to a 2:00.3 triumph in his assignment for trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau. The margin of victory was more than nine lengths over Urge To Win and Ultimate Blessing. It was the seventh win of the 2009 campaign and the 10th lifetime tally for the son of Western Success-Mariart, who is owned by New Brunswick partners Robert Tilley, Lester Mott and Kelly Barrieau.
Heavily favoured Kingofthecastle easily disposed of the foes he faced in the final division for the duo of driver Kenny Arsenault and trainer Earl Smith. Despite going first over the son of Western Success-Bourgeois Baby drew off to win by more than four lengths over Seawind Dropper in a time of 1:59.3. Seawind Motion rounded out the top three. It was the ninth win of the season in 17 trips postward for the gelding, who is owned by Kyle Gardiner of Cardigan and Joseph Gardiner of Mount Stewart, PE.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.