Driver Marc Campbell visited the winner's circle six times on a 15-race Sunday, June 2 card, which featured a trio of divisions for each the colts and fillies of the Donnie and George Turner Memorial for three-year-olds.
Campbell took a pair of the $9,110 divisions for the pacing fillies, including the first aboard the Brent Campbell-trained Galway Girl. Campbell wasted no time getting to the front, leading the field to the quarter in a swift :27.4. The bettors' second choice had things her way through the middle half with fractions of :58 and 1:28.1. In the lane, Galway Girl had to fend off a late bid by Freaky Fanny (Michael McGuigan) to win by a neck in 1:57.
The victory was the first in the career of the daughter of Shanghai Phil-Hazel. Owned by Kent and Bernard MacDonald along with Jacinta Campbell and Brady Doyle, Galway Girl now sports a career bankroll of $9,931.
Campbell teamed up with Saulsbrook Feisty to claim the second division for fillies. Campbell settled in the fourth position while High Roller (Adam Merner) cut the opening quarter in :28.1 before Campbell moved Saulsbrook Feisty first-over at the half in :57.2. The battle raged on the backstretch, with the duelling leaders noses apart at three-quarters in 1:27.1. Saulsbrook Feisty put away High Roller before fending off a late bid by Dusty Lane Dixie (Gilles Barrieau) by a length in 1:57.2.
The victory was the first through two starts on the year for the daughter of Big Jim-First Delight who is owned and trained by Carrie Saunders. Saulsbrook Feisty is now a winner of seven of 11 lifetime races to go along with career earnings of $23,513.
Among Campbell's four additional victories on the card, Roll Em (pictured above) lived up to his name with a 1:53.4 victory in the $2,500 Winners Over Pace for trainer Brent Campbell.
Goodmorning Nova and driver Gilles Barrieau scored in the third and final division for pacing fillies. Barrieau settled the Ashley Gamester trainee into third early while Nofool Tabago battled to the outside for the lead to the quarter in :27.2. Chip Of Evil (Corey MacPherson) took command to the half in a fast :56.2 before Goodmorning Nova got her turn on the front at three-quarters in 1:25.2. Goodmorning Nova had enough to score the victory by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1 over Starship Beauty (David Dowling) with Chip Of Evil third.
The winning time was a new lifetime mark for Melissa Banks' homebred daughter of Arthur Blue Chip-Goodmorning Ky, and the fastest of the day's Turner stakes divisions. The victory was the first in three starts on the year for Goodmorning Nova and the seventh lifetime for the earner of $64,223. Banks shares ownership with Jason Williams.
The first of three $9,410 divisions for the colts belonged to Jackies Boy and driver Myles Heffernan. Getting to the lead to the quarter in :28.2, Jackies Boy was left alone on top to the half in :58.2. Opening up by three lengths at three-quarters in 1:27.1, Jackies Boy held sway for a 1-3/4-length victory in 1:56.1 over Pauls Crown (Campbell).
Heffernan also owns and trains the homebred gelded son of Tobago Cays-Dusty Lane Bria who is undefeated through two starts in 2024. Sporting career earnings of $73,242, Jackies Boy has been victorious in nine of 12 for his career and has yet to miss the board.
Merigo Magic extended his perfect 2024 campaign to four wins in as many starts in the second colt division. Starting in the second tier, driver Adam Merner got away fourth before assuming command before the halfway point in :57.1. From there, Merigo Magic asserted himself to three-quarters in 1:26.4 before cruising to a two-length victory in 1:56.3.
The gelded son of Tobago Cays-Meridian Magic is trained by Melissa Rennie for owners Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron and Ian Walker. Merigo Magic vaulted his career earnings to $66,382 with his ninth career victory.
Gilles Barrieau secured his second stakes win with trainer Ashley Gamester in the third and final division for colts with Tobins Chester. Tobins Chester grabbed the lead to the quarter in :28 before maintaining a two-length advantage to the half in :58. The gap remained the same to three-quarters in 1:27.1 before Tobins Chester had to fend off a furious rally by The Vicar (Paul Langille) to get to the line a head in front in 1:55.3.
The clocking was a lifetime best for the Donald MacRae-owned son of Shanghai Phil-Putnam Mackenzie. The victory was the first on the season for Tobins Chester and the eighth lifetime, boosting his career bankroll of $59,463.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)