Driver Adam Merner and trainer Melissa Rennie took the second Atlantic Sires Stakes "A" division, worth $12,240, on the Saturday afternoon, June 22 card at Northside Downs with Merigo Magic, now a winner of five straight races.
Merigo Magic was on the engine and opened up to a 5-1/2-length lead at the opening split in :28.2. While the gap shortened, Merigo Magic kept on going through a half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:29.3, unchallenged. With ease, the Rennie student chugged home to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:57.2. Check Your Chip (Myles Heffernan) was second with Pauls Crown (Marc Campbell) third.
Mike May, Derrick Cameron and Ian Walker co-own the Tobago Cays-Meridian Magic gelding, who notched his fifth win in five starts this year and his 10th win from 15 career starts. Merigo Magic returned $3.10 to win.
Merner and Rennie doubled up in triumphs with a win in the $1,600 Winners Over Pace with Mr Kelly ($2.30). The seven-year-old gelded son of Rollwithitharry-Yankee Checkers jetted to a 1:58.1 victory by three lengths for owners Marsha Knox, Cory Livingston and Kevin Teasdale.
Marc Campbell hosted a driving clinic on Saturday at Northside, winning an Atlantic Sires Stake "A" division, notching a career milestone for trainer Keith MacDonell, and steering four winners to victory on the card.
Ashley Gamester teamed up with Campbell to send Tobins Chester to the gate from post four in the field of five going for $12,240 as the first ATSS "A" split for pacing colts.
Tobins Chester fought gamely from the start, securing the early lead and notching the timer first at the quarter in :28. Jackies Boy (Myles Heffernan) sat ideally through the opening quarter, but swept around to take command en route to the half in :58.1. In a game of tug of war, Tobins Chester was back out on the move as they approached the three-quarters in 1:27.3. Tobins Chester achieved the lead once again and waved goodbye as he went on to score by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:55.4. Jackies Boy took second and Dunsan Harry (Adam Merner) completed the top three finishers.
The three-year-old gelding son of Shanghai Phil-Putnam Mackenzie is owned by Donald MacRae and recorded his second straight win and his ninth career tally from 13 starts. As the bettors' choice, he returned $4.20 for the win.
Campbell piloted Jack Boswall ($13.40) to a pocket trip in his ATSS "B" division, a 2-1/2 length score in 1:57.1, securing the first lifetime training win for Keith MacDonell.
The second "B" division went to Beers On Me ($9.70) in 2:00.1 by a half length, steered by Campbell for Heather Hawkins.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)