Three-year-old pacing fillies were in the spotlight at Fredericton Raceway on Victoria Day, as the half-mile oval hosted four divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes
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A set of $9,680 “A” divisions were accompanied by a pair of $2,000 “B” divisions, and there was no shortage of speed
Malabrigo captured the first of the two “A” divisions for trainer/driver Marc Campbell, who watched the Western Paradise-Lots Abunny lass halt the teletimer in a career-best of 1:59 in what was her first start of the year.
She was up and driving at the quarter pole in :29.2 before eventually working her way to the lead. Once she cleared she zipped through panels of :59.3 and 1:29.2 before using a :29.3 closing quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths over the 7-5 favourite, A As Glory. Shes Astronomical tagged along to grab the show dough in the eight-horse affair.
Buntainwood Farm of Brackley Beach, PE owns the youngster who put together an impressive record of 7-3-1 during her 11-start rookie campaign. The lion’s share of Monday’s purse boosted her bankroll to $56,164.
Seeyouonthebeach kicked off her sophomore season with a victory thanks to her 9-1 upset performance in the second division for trainer/driver Darren Crowe. The Western Paradise-Red Sea miss got away seventh before rushing up first-over over on the way to the half. She worked her to way to the lead in the third quarter and then coasted home in :31.3 to halt the teletimer in 2:01.3. Putyourwhipaway was 2-3/4 lengths back in second, with Ruby Vance a well-beaten third.
Roy Springett of Windsor, NS holds the papers on the three-time winner, who pushed her lifetime earnings to $12,488 with the win.
Spank Da Monkey won a hard-fought battle over the even-money favourite, Libbybeans, in the first of the two “B” divisions. Todd Trites mapped out the winning trip with the daughter of Carlspur-Olivias Gold.
Trites tucked into the two-hole with the pacing lass, who was allowed to shadow the pacesetting Libbybeans through first-half fractions of :30 and 1:01.1. Trites hit the accelerator going up the backside, and his charge showed a short lead over Libbybeans at the three-quarter pole in 1:31.2. A :30.3 kicker was good enough for Spank Da Monkey to earn the half-length decision over Libbybeans in what turned out to be a career-best clocking of 2:02. West River Wonder rounded out the top three finishers.
Cheryl Geldart Greer of Norton, NB owns and trains the filly, who now boasts a lifetime record to 4-1-1 from just 13 assignments.
Gords Girl took the other $2,000 split by the narrowest of margins for trainer/driver Mike Downey in 2:04. The daughter of Carlspur-Ripe Is Ready whacked out panels of :31.1, 1:04 and 1:33.1 en route to the nose decision over even-money favourite Independent Gal. Dottie Dekker, who did the first-over work, had to settle for third prize.
Downey Racing Stable of Saint John, NB owns the maiden-breaker, who now boasts a 1-1-2 record from 10 lifetime starts.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Fredericton Raceway.
Gilles and Todd are back.
Gilles and Todd are back.