Two-year-old pacing fillies faced off in their first Atlantic Sires Stakes test of the season on Wednesday (July 12) at Red Shores at Summerside.
R Es Shabla ($6.10) won the first of three $9,460 "A" divisions in wire-to-wire fashion for trainer/driver Mike McGuigan and owner Lloyd Parsons of Carmanville, NL. R Es Shabla carved out fractions of :30.2, 1:01.2 and 1:31.4 before drawing off by more than four lengths in a :28.2 final frame. The Pang Shui-Jojoes Shabla filly earned her second career win in as many starts and lowered her lifetime mark to 2:00.1. Woodmere Ceilidh (Clare MacDonald) advanced first-over and out-finished pocket-sitter Saulsbrook Bailey (Gilles Barrieau) for the runner-up honours.
Trained and driven by Earl Smith, Elm Grove Mistress ($15.70) stuffed the leaving outside favourite Saulsbrook Coral (Gilles Barrieau) into the pocket through a :29.1 quarter and took a second quarter breather to the half in 1:01.1 before rebuffing the first-over challenge from Woodmere Saphire (Mark Bradley) by the 1:31.3 third quarter mark. She was clear on top turning for home, but Chocolate Terror (Paul Langille) rallied late outside and Maybeitsmaybelline (Todd Trites) dove inside to make it a close call. However, Elm Grove Mistress held on by a head for the maiden-breaking 2:01 victory. She is owned by Peter Smith of Charlottetown, Larry Chappell of Marshfield, Gerald Morrissey of Vernon River, P.E.I., and Arnold Hagen of Bible Hill, N.S.
The fastest and final "A" division went to the career-debuting Royaltywestho ($13.10), who raced in fifth-place throughout and closed late in :27.4 to nab the 1:58.3 win in rein to Walter Cheverie. Favourite Bettim Jackie (Gary Chappell) assumed command from the inside post and led the strung out field through fractions of :30, :59.3 and 1:28.4 without a challenge until late in the mile. Scarlet Desire (Marc Campbell) pulled the pocket down the stretch with Royaltywestho rallying to her outside while Woodmere Chella (Gillies Barrieau) came through along the pylons. Royaltywestho prevailed by a neck amidst the late-movers while Bettim Jackie settled for fourth. Trainer Joseph Baxter shares ownership of the Westwardho Hanover-Lady Kelleigh Anne miss with Gregory Francis of Windsor, N.S.
The $2,500 "B" divisions were won by Zero Stress Nora ($8.90) and driver Brian MacPhee in 2:03.1 for trainer Dan Lewis, and Silverhill Misty ($4.60) and trainer/driver Jason Hughes in 2:04.2 for owner Kurt Hughes. Both fillies were first-time winners.
The two-year-old pacing fillies will meet again in their next Atlantic Sires Stakes leg on July 18 at Truro Raceway.
Also on the Wednesday card, Atlantic Sires Stakes graduate Heart And Soul ($5.10) parlayed a pocket trip into a 1:57.3 triumph as the favourite in the $2,200 Preferred for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald and Riley Farms Ltd. Eagle Jolt (Marc Campbell) and Machinthesand (Ken Murphy) finished second and third, respectively.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Summerside Raceway.