Last year’s Atlantic Breeders Crown champion, Allbentouttashape, maintained a firm hold on first place in this year’s Atlantic Sires Stakes point standings as he sailed to victory in one of two $9,920 'A' divisions for sophomore pacing colts at Northside Downs on Saturday afternoon
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This is the third Atlantic Sires Stakes win for the three-year-old son of Quick Comeback-C A Lady owned by the Dooley Boys Racing Stable of Halifax, NS. The Sean Dooley-trained gelding carved out fractions of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:27.3 before crossing the finish line in 1:56.2, with driver Kenny Arsenault holding the lines. Second place honours went to Idbegoodatthat and driver Ryan Ellis for owners Wayne James Ellis of Stewiacke and Danica Ellis, Brookfield, NS. PH Hotshot and driver Todd Trites came home third for owner Dr. James Shive, Shubenacadie, NS.
Allbentouttashape is now five-for-five on the year with over $25,000 banked. The lion's share of the purse pushed his total earnings over the $100,000 mark.
The trip from New Brunswick to the North Sydney oval was also worthwhile for Island Redemption. The gelding converted from the pocket to win the second $9,920 “A” division event on the race card with driver-trainer Gilles Barrieau in the bike in a career-best time of 1:56.1 for owners Alfred Barrieau of Dieppe and Michael Clinton of Saint John, NB. The time of the mile set a new track record for three-year-old pacers. Second place went to pacesetter Ultimate Yankee and driver Robert Laffin for the Ultimate Stable and Dawn Hubbard of Greater Lakeburn, NB. Third place went to Box Car Johnnie and driver Joe Campbell for owner Russell Newman of North Sydney, NS.
Island Redemption, a son of Sea Gull Hershey-Luscious Character, notched his second straight ATSS win. His sixth victory in nine outings so far this season pushed his earnings to $12,440 and $43,790 lifetime.
The lone $2,500 “B” division event of the afternoon race card was won by Tobins Paradise captured the $1,000 Open Pace in 1:59.4. Robert Laffin drove the five-year-old Western Paradise-Country Look mare to her second win of the season in 20 starts for trainer Sifroi Melanson and the Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, NB. Heres Harley (Max Sehl) finished a quarter-length behind and Woodmere Westerner (Greg Bailey) rounded out the top three.
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(With files from Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association)