Atlantic sired freshmen pacing fillies were in the spotlight during Wednesday night’s 12-dash Lobster Carnival harness racing program at Summerside Raceway
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Favourite J J Solara turned in a 2:05.1 effort to win the first of two $12,480 Atlantic Sires Stakes “A” divisions for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald. Leaving from Post 4, the Coastocoast Yankee - Farline Hanover filly was on top by the first quarter in :30.4 and was then able to steal a breather in the second panel posting the half in 1:04.4. After reaching the third quarter checkpoint in 1:35.2, J J Solara unleashed a :29.4 final frame to win by two lengths over Seawind Allegra (Danny Romo) and Putnams Dough Girl (Bernard McCallum).
J J Solara scored her second win in three outings for owners Morah Kerr of Greenfield and Phonsie MacEachern of Port Hood, N.S. The $8,000 Atlantic Classic sale purchase lifted her bankroll to $9,489 with the victory.
In the second “A” split, C H Yocoohno, a $1,600 Atlantic Classic sale purchase, made her career debut a winning one for trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault and owners J William Hogg of Charlottetown and John Melanson of Stanley Bridge, P.E.I. The daughter of Mantorious - Ms Shania, the 3-1 second choice, followed Charlottes Coast (Darren Crowe) through panels of :30, 1:02 and 1:32.2 before popping the pocket and sprinting home in :29.1 to win by a quarter-length in 2:02. Meridian Magic (Vincent Poulton) rounded out the top three.
With Allan Earl Smith in the bike, Riverlee Breeze turned back a challenge from All Keyed Up (Ron Matheson) for a 20-1 upset in her $2,500 "B" division for trainer/owner Fred Paynter. The N Xample - Parmesan Hanover filly won for the first time in 2:07.1 by a length a quarter over We B Success (Clare MacDonald). All Keyed Up finished third.
Driven by Gary Chappell, Elm Grove Exotic also broke her maiden in the other “B” division winning from off the pace in 2:04.4 by a length and three-quarters. Teela Tequila (Kenny Arsenault) and Windy Knoll Dazee (Terrence Affleck) finished second and third. The Largo – Elm Grove Lucent miss is trained by Stacey Lund for Casey Gavin of Tignish, P.E.I.
In Open action, Dunmore Alpha front stepped his way to victory lane in 2:01.1. Owned, trained and driven by Edward Smallwood, the six-year-old Black River – Princess Victory trotter, who was sent postward as the 5-1 fourth choice in the $1,400 five-horse affair, carved out fractions of :30.1, 1:00.3 and 1:31 en route to his second win of the season in 10 starts. Saulsbrook Balance (Willie Murphy) finished a length back in second and Kung Pao Chic (Gary Chappell) was third. Dunmore Alpha’s 22nd career win lifted his bankroll to $47,731.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click here.