The Atlantic Sires Stakes season for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings began on a rainy Wednesday night with four $7,720 'A' divisions featured at Summerside Raceway.
The rainy weather resulted in the track conditions being downgraded to "sloppy" with a four second variant by the end of the evening and prompted a short delay two-thirds of the way through the card for track maintenance.
Jackson K Down (Camystic-Village Jericho) and driver Gilles Barrieau won the first "A" division for trainer Stephen Mason and the Downey Stables of Quispamsis, N.B.
Favourite P H Blackjack retook the lead from Lukes Cowboy as they raced past the first quarter in :31.4 while Jackson K Down followed in third-place. After middle splits of 1:05.1 and 1:37.1, Jackson K Down closed up the inside to prevail in 2:07.1 by one length. Lukes Cowboy also edged past the late-breaking P H Blackjack to finish second.
Trained and driven by Clare MacDonald, Heart And Soul (Western Paradise-Mighty Sassy) was a wire-to-wire winner in the second division for Kensington, P.E.I. owners Earith and George Riley.
After a suffering interference behind the gate that prompted a recall, Heart And Soul worked past slight favourite K D Overdrive through a :32.1 opening quarter and was kept to task as that rival pulled the pocket early and then retreated back in line. Heart And Soul drove on through a 1:06.4 half and three-quarters in 1:38.1 before cruising home for the 2:09.1 triumph. K D Overdrive followed one length behind in second while Woodmere Terror inherited third after a pair of judges' placings.
With Marc Campbell aboard, favourite Elm Grove Kaboom (Camystic-Aquatic Lightning) won the next division for trainer Ken Wilkie and his partner Larry Chappell of Marshfield, P.E.I.
Advancing around the pocket breaker Wishiwasagigolo and inside leaver Beaus Cowboy, Elm Grove Kaboom took over command. He carved out fractions of :31.4, 1:04.4 and 1:38, and was left all alone on the lead when Beaus Cowboy broke stride from the two-hole in the final turn. Elm Grove Kaboom won his division in 2:09 by five and half lengths while Pro Side edged out Dare You in a place picture.
The final division was won by Up And Gone (Driven To Win-U Da Best), who scored in front-end fashion for trainer/driver Mike Stevenson and owner Robert Wilson of Woodstock, N.B.
With the inside post advantage, Up And Gone forced Dilans Mustang to take a pocket seat as he left for the lead and carved out fractions of :32.4, 1:07 and 1:39.2. Dilans Mustang tipped out for the stretch drive while Magical Cowboy closed along the pylons, but Up And Gone held on to win by a head in 2:09.4. He prevailed in the photo finish over Magical Cowboy while Dilans Mustang crossed the wire over a length behind in third.
Jackson K Down, Heart And Soul and Elm Grove Kaboom each made their career debuts in the opening leg of the Sires Stakes while Up And Gone won his second start after beginning his career in Maine.
Early on the card when the track was still fast, co-favourite Offshore Cowboy (Brandons Cowboy-Charlottes Candy) wore down pacesetter Pownal Bay Elvis to win a $2,500 "B" division by half a length in 2:03.3 with Walter Cheverie aboard. The homebred gelding races from the Don Milligan stable and is owned by Kent Williams of Ellerslie, P.E.I. and Lyndon Hardy of Coleman, P.E.I.
Rosewood (Camystic-Regal Rose) and trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault were victorious in the later "B" division. Arsenault pulled Rosewood from the pocket coming off the final turn and glided past the popular pacesetter Silverhill Storm to win in 2:08 for breeder Philip Valley of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. and co-owner Jeffery Ruch of Innisfil, Ont.
The Atlantic Sires Stakes season will continue for the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on July 23 at Truro Raceway. Summerside will host the three-year-old pacing fillies and colts on Thursday and Friday as Governor's Plate Week continues.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Summerside Raceway.