Sunday was a day to remember for Monica Sutherland as she opened the card at Inverness Raceway with her first career driving win then later capped off the afternoon with another victory in the featured pace.
The 23-year-old Port Hood, N.S. horsewoman had just five prior starts in the sulky with two seconds and a third before scoring the driving double with upset winners Eastcoast Ms Haney ($14.90) and Eastcoast Invader ($34.30) to bookend the six-race Sunday program. Sutherland trains both winners, which were bred by her father Todd.
In the opener, Sutherland guided three-year-old pacing filly Eastcoast Ms Haney to a 2:05.3 nose decision over the 'good' track after launching to the outside down the stretch to catch the duelling leaders, favourite Dirty Bobby and Whos Your Shadow. It was also a maiden-breaking victory for the Arthur Blue Chip filly, who has improved in each of her three career starts.
Sutherland ended the day back in the winner's circle following another successful steer in the featured $1,800 Winners Over Pace with Eastcoast Invader (pictured above). After getting around the early breaker that caused interference to the field from the two-hole during the opening quarter, Sutherland and the six-year-old Rollwithitharry gelding caught up with runaway leader Sunshine Lou during the first lap then launched from the pocket off the final turn to win in 2:02.1 by 2-1/2 lengths. Solid Silver and Windemere Best Man finished second and third as the favoured Sunshine Lou faded in the stretch after setting fractions of :29.2, 1:00.3 and 1:31.2. Sutherland also co-owns Eastcoast Invader, a 15-time winner, with her father.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.