Atlantic Sires Stakes (ATSS) action kicked off at Truro Raceway on Tuesday, July 16 while filly and mare pacers raced in eliminations for the Wilsons Home & Heating Series.
Frosh pacing fillies competed in two $10,340 ATSS “A” divisions on the 10-race card. The Articulator filly Woodmere Nasha sat a pocket trip from a pylon post to overtake pacesetter Tobins Choice by a quarter length in 1:59.4. The Jamie Smith trainee led to a :29.1 quarter before sitting second through a :59 half and 1:29.4 three quarters. Driver Kenneth Arsenault angled from the pocket in the stretch to win narrowly with Howmacrivercruiser coming from last to take third via disqualification.
Owned by Five Guys Horses N Lies, Woodmere Nasha has earned $6,591. She paid $8.20 to win.
Saulsbrook Ocean later converted a pocket trip from an inside draw to a victory in the second frosh pacing filly division, winning by a length in 1:59.3. Odds-on favourite Watch Me Dance overtook Sauslbrook Ocean from post 7 past a :29.4 first quarter and led through fractions of 1:00.1 and 1:30.3. Saulsbrook Ocean edged from the pocket through the stretch to slide by and win while Watch Me Dance held second rom Bellafornow in third.
A daughter of Westwardho Hanover, Saulsbrook Ocean won his second race from two starts, earning $5,778 for owners Saulsbrook Stables Inc., Jennifer Baxter and Michael McKenzie. Dale Spence drove the $10.40 winner for owner Joseph Baxter.
Mabou Ridge wired his competition to take the sole $15,720 division of the ATSS two-year-old trot. The son of Armbro Barrister pushed for the front from the inside and set a clip of :30.2, 1:03 and 1:34 and maintained control when pressed by Tequila Tuesday around the final turn to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths in 2:03.1. Tequila Tuesday took second while Go With Her finished five lengths back in third.
A homebred for Arnold Rankin, Mabou Ridge remains undefeated from two starts while accruing $14,148 in earnings. Mary MacDonald trains and drive the $3.30 winner.
Speed ruled the three divisions of the ATSS three-year-old trot with Richsnortherndream opening the card going wire to wire as the odds-on favourite in 2:00. The Northern Bailey gelding cleared command past a :29.3 first quarter and opened a three-length lead heading towards a :59.1 half. He continued to control the tempo through three-quarters in 1:29.3 while pursued by Dusty Lane Titan and held off that challenger through the stretch by a quarter length. Camco Bailey finished third.
Owned by One Black Horse Stable and Wade Peconi, Richsnortherndream won his second race from 11 starts, earning $7,930. Kenny Arsenault trains and drives the $3.20 winner.
Ya Boy Bear followed in the next race with a track-record performance to take the second ATSS three-year-old trot split on the front in 1:59. Trainer-driver Marc Campbell cruised the Delcrest Julian gelding to the front and led through splits of :29.2, 1:00.2 and 1:30. Even-money favourite Getting Messi moved first over past the half and challenged the leader rounding the final turn before retreating through the stretch and finishing two lengths back in second. Mile Hill Willie, from second over, chased in third.
Eclipsing the previous track mark for three-year-old trotting geldings of 1:59.4 set by Pappy Go Go, Ya Boy Bear won his fourth race from eight starts, earning $11,963. The $5.60 winner competes for owner-breeder Michael Bailey.
The time of the mile also established a new overall track standard on the trot, one-fifth better than Moblessinsdinblues' 1:59.1 mile from July 2010.
Thelastonestanding romped the final ATSS three-year-old trot with a track-record mile, winning by five lengths in 1:59.2. Leaving from post one, the Northern Bailey colt faced no threats through fractions of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:29.1. Pocket-sitter Dustylane Thunder chased from second through the stretch while Whim Road Gem passed tiring horses to finish third, 13 lengths off the winner.
Besting the previous mark for three-year-old trotting colts of 2:02 set by Rustico Ben, Thelastonestanding races for owners Donald Beaton and Donald Maceachern. He won his second race from five starts, earning $5,883. Brian MacPhee drove the $4.00 winner for trainer Ambyr Campbell.
Favourite Always Reese took the first elimination of the Wilsons Home & Heating Series braving a pocket-pulling move from Camco Willow to win in 1:59.1.
Camco Willow led early from the inside while Always Reese progressed first over to the front past a :29 opening quarter. She continued to lead through a :59 half while My Blue Eyed Angel parked first over. The backfield stalled while My Blue Eyed Angel retreated through three-quarters in 1:29.3, giving room for Camco Willow to vacate the pocket. The pocket popper led narrowly into the stretch before Always Reese retook the lead nearing the finish to win by a quarter length. Kant Katch Kaiden rallied from a pylon trip for third.
A seven-year-old mare by Always A Virgin, Always Reese won her third race from 14 starts this season and her 25th from 140 overall, earning $58,493. George Rennison conditions the $4.10 winner for owners Andrea and Ryder Rennison. Marc Campbell sat in the sulky.
Barona Lilac vaulted from second over to take the second elimination for the Wilsons Home & Heating Series in 1:59.3. The nine-year-old Ameripan Gigolo mare stalked splits of :29.1, 1:00.1 and 1:29.3 set by P H Powerful. Saulsbrook Flicka pressed from first over past the half and supplied far-turn cover to Barona Lilac as she angled wide for the stretch drive. Trainer-driver Darren Crowe spun Barona Lilac wide into the stretch and ripped past pocket-pouncer Dancers Pass to win by a half length. P H Powerful settled for third.
Owned by Robyn Crowe, Barona Lilac won her first race from eight starts this season and her 26th from 121 overall, earning $124,240. She paid $6.40 to win.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Truro Raceway.