Dixieland Band clocked a record performance at Inverness Raceway on Sunday afternoon, crossing the wire in 1:57.1 and taking first-place honours in one of two Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Meanwhile, Thebigbamtheory stole the spotlight in the Standardbred Canada co-sponsored Nova Scotia Stake.
Dixieland Band was under the command of driver Gilles Barrieau, earning the winner's share of the $9,380 purse for owners Reginald MacPherson and David MacKenzie of Stratford, P.E.I. and Aaron MacKenzie of Winsloe, P.E.I. Trained by Kevin MacLean, the son Ameripan Gigolo lead from start to finish, posting fractions of :29.1, :58.3, 1:27.3 and 1:57.1 to lower the three-year-old gelding record. Terra Cotta Lad and Proven Desire finished second and third, respectively.
Another Ameripan Gigolo gelding, BNGs Express took first-place honours in the other 'A' division in 1:59 with trainer Danny Romo in the bike for owners Thomas Hawco Jr. and George Della Valle of Sydney, N.S. Arnold Dick finished seven and half lengths behind in second and Pictonian Edge was third.
Meanwhile, the Earl Watts-trained Hog Aufray and driver Marc Campbell won the first of two $2,500 'B' divisions in 2:01.1 by a nose over R Es Aiden for owners Windemere Farms of North Wiltshire, P.E.I. and Claude Poirier of Havre-Aux-Maisons, Que.
George and trainer/driver Clare MacDonald crossed the finish line 14 lengths on top in a career-best 1:59.3 mile for owners Riley Farms and Earith Riley of Kensington, P.E.I. in the other 'B' division.
Points earned in each Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' division go towards earning a coveted spot in the season-ending Atlantic Breeders Crown Championship. This year's Weekend of Champions will be hosted by Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Thanksgiving weekend.
In other stakes action, Thebigbamtheory romped to a 2:00.4 victory in the $10,000 Nova Scotia Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies, winning by seven and a half lengths over Pictonian Stardust and Sunlight. Kelly and Cameron MacEachen's homebred Electric Stena filly was driven by her trainer Ernest Laffin in the stakes event co-sponsored by Standardbred Canada and the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association.
Schooner was a dominant 14-3/4 length winner in this week's $1,250 Winners Over Pace, stopping the clock in 1:59.3. Anthony Beaton's seven-year-old old pacer is now three-for-three competing in Inverness Raceway's top class this season with driver Alex MacQuarrie along for the ride.
Four Starz Brass and driver Marc Campbell scored a 2:02.3 victory in the third race for claiming pacers, marking 18-year-old Inverness, N.S. resident Keelan MacDonald's first career win as trainer. MacDonald has conditioned the nine-year-old gelding for three starts and he has finished no worse than third.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.