The Juggernaut Pacing Series kicked off on Sunday afternoon at Sudbury Downs with Ardmore and filly Stryking Dove winning their respective $7,500 first leg divisions.
Ardmore advanced first over from fourth and wore down pacesetter Mr Why (Paul MacLean) to win the first division by half a length in 1:58.1 for trainer/driver Mario Rivest. Favourite Jet Set Style (David Dowling) finished third. Owned by Rivest and Richard Villeneuve of Val Caron, Ont., the four-year-old son of Jeremes Jet paid $13.90 to win as the 5-1 third choice.
Three-year-old Stryking Dove was 10 lengths the best in the other division, kicking away from the field off a two-hole trip with a :28.4 final frame to win in a new mark of 1:58.2. The victory was driver Justin Turcotte's fourth on the 10-race card. Kyle Reibeling trains and owns the L H Stryker filly. Early trailer Bilbo Hanover (Mike Noble) and Bubeleh Stone (David Dowling) came on for second and third. The 5-2 second choice paid $7.70 to win.
The series is for horses aged five years old and younger that are non-winners of two races or $16,000 (fillies and mares $20,000) lifetime as of midnight Monday, July 1. The Juggernaut consists of two legs with the divisions of each having a purse of $7,500. There will also be a consolation at the same purse and a final purse of $15,000 (added) (estimated $17,500).
Among Turcotte's other winners was the Champlain Stables' Justlikejessejames, who scored a 1:55.4 off-the-pace victory in the $6,000 Preferred 2 Handicap. James Belanger trains the five-year-old son of Million Dollar Cam, who paid $11.50 to win.
Favourite St Lads Moxie ($2.80) front-stepped her way to a 1:56.2 two length victory in this week's $4,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 for trainer/driver Patrick Shepherd and owner Jonah Moase of Cornwall, P.E.I. She's a perfect four-for-four for her latest connections after being claimed for $10,000 on June 13 at Mohawk Racetrack.
To view Sudbury's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Sudbury Downs.