The 2013 Atlantic Sires Stakes season kicked off on Sunday afternoon at Truro Raceway with three-year-old pacing fillies in the spotlight.
Driver Kenny Arsenault won two of the three $6,980 'A' divisions with Misssassy Attitude and Rose Valley.
Fresh off a victory in the Rudy Chappell Stakes, Misssassy Attitude took a new mark of 1:57.1 in the fastest Sunday stakes event for Statford, P.E.I. trainer Ken Wilkie, who co-owns with Larry Chappell of Marshfield, P.E.I. The Brandons Cowboy-Briannas Attitude filly advanced first over from fourth and prevailed after a three-across battle past the three-quarters by one length over Western Judy (Marc Campbell) with Kaitlins Kowgirl (Myles Heffernan) finishing over 10 lengths behind in third.
After recovering from an early break in stride, the lightly raced Rose Valley worked her way to the front of the field and held off a from-last Putnams Kream (Bernard McCallum) by half a length for the 2:01 career-best score. Howmacs Princess (Marc Campbell) edged out Howmacs Angel (Ryan Ellis) one length behind in third. The Brandons Cowboy-Fox Valley Shadow miss is trained by Mike Campbell and owned by Dawn and Theodore Bremner of Jemseg, N.B.
Windemere Maggie converted off a trip to win the other 'A' division in a new mark of 1:59 for Murray River, P.E.I. conditioner Raymond White and co-owner Margaret Bannister of Belfast, P.E.I. The popular Articulator-Drop Of Magic filly prevailed by half a length ahead of first over Ramblinglily (Brodie MacPhee) and pacesetter Scootin For Joy (Mike Stevenson) with Marc Campbell in the sulky.
Campbell also won as pair of $2,500 'B' divisions with his own trainees Alis Cooper (2:01.3) and the maiden-breaking Skip The Exam (2:00.3). Trainer/driver Greg Sparling took the other division with Behindmyback (2:03.2) scoring her first win while making just her third career start.
The three-year-old pacing fillies will face off again on July 12 at Summerside Raceway.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.