Trotters found themselves in the spotlight Tuesday evening at Summerside Raceway, as the half-mile oval hosted six divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for the square gaiters.
Two-year-olds kicked things off on the stakes-laden program, and the opening division went to Fine Thanks and owner/trainer/driver Jason Hughes in 2:07.4. The son of Bo W-Watch Top shot to the lead from Post 7 and successfully sliced out splits of :32.1, 1:05 and 1:36.2 before cruising home in :31.2 to seal the deal by five lengths over Glencove Zani. Time Warp rounded out the top three finishers in the $6,600 affair.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, the gelding earned back $2,970 of his $4,100 purchase price from last year’s Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Yearling Sale.
Craigh Na Dun took his $6,600 assignment in 2:10.1 for trainer Nick Oakes and driver Jason Hughes. Just as he did in the first division, Hughes sent his charge to the lead and didn’t look back after posting panels of :33.2, 1:06.3 and 1:39.3. The margin of victory for the gelding was 1-1/4 lengths over Oceanview Pancho, with race favourite Da Master grabbing the show dough.
Buntainwood Farm of Brackley Beach, PE owns the maiden-breaking son of Nureyev-Southview Leah. He was a $2,000 purchase from the 2014 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale.
High Bid clicked in 2:11.4 while wrapping things up for the rookies. The son of Neal-Highly Organized went wire-to-wire after posting panels of :33.3, 1:08.2 and 1:41.2 for driver Walter Cheverie. The margin of victory was two lengths over My Monies On Me, with third prize going to Cardigan Jack.
Joey Smallwood of Stratford, PE trains and owns the gelding who was originally purchased for $4,400 from the Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale before re-selling for $5,700 two weeks later at the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Yearling Sale.
Suicide Shift notched the first stakes win of his career thanks to his 2:04 score in the first division of the ATSS for three-year-old trotters. Steven Shepherd hustled the sophomore to the lead from Post 4 and whacked out fractions of :31.3, 1:03.2 and 1:34.3 before using a :29.2 kicker to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Wait For Me. Windemere Tribe took home third prize in the $6,220 affair.
Trainer Harold Shepherd co-owns the son of PJs Nabby-Southwind Bethany with Margo Fisher of Fredericton, NB. The victory improves his overall record to 3-3-2 from 12 assignments, and his share of the loot lifts his career bankroll to $14,322.
J K Blaze blew away the foes he faced in the second division of the ATSS for three-year-olds thanks to his 12-length score for driver Walter Cheverie. The gelding enjoyed a double digit lead through fractions of :30.4, 1:01.2 and 1:33 before using a :31.3 closing quarter to stop the teletimer in 2:04.3. Sweetwater Rayne was next best, with the show dough going to Dusty Lane Jacob.
Joey Smallwood of Stratford, PE trains and owns the son of Northern Bailey-KC Popcicle Grin. It was the first win of the season in two attempts for the four-time winner who now boasts a career bankroll of $18,419.
Paymenowpaymelater kicked off her sophomore campaign with a 2:05.3 triumph in the third division. Marc Campbell muscled to the lead with the daughter of Northern Bailey-Credibility, and she successfully sped through intervals of :31, 1:03.4 and 1:36.1 before storming home in :29.2 to win by 6-1/2 lengths over Windemere Ty. B J Matador took home third prize in the $6,220 contest.
Earl Watts trains the stakes star, who put together an ultra-impressive record of 9-0-3 from 12 trips to the track last season. Wade Peconi of Stanchel, PE owns the career winner of $33,661.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Summerside Raceway.