Reigning Atlantic Sires Stakes divisional champion Dixieland Band was back in the spotlight as stakes action resumed on Friday night during Governor's Plate Week at Summerside Raceway.
Dixieland Band was a wire-to-wire winner in the second leg of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, which featured a pair of $13,220 "A" divisions.
The evening's second division had both opening leg winners Dixieland Band and BNGS Express among the field. Driven by Gilles Barrieau, 1-2 favourite Dixieland Band took the lead from post five and carved out fractions of :29.4, 1:00.1 and 1:29.3 en route to the two and three-quarter length victory in 1:57.2. BNGs Express (Danny Romo) came on for second-place honours this time out while Goodmorningmister (Corey MacPherson) finished third.
Riding a three-race win streak, Dixieland Band has now won two ATSS events and a division of the Carl And Marg MacKenzie Memorial Stakes. The Kevin MacLean trainee last raced at Summerside on May 31, winning a division of the Bob Dewar Memorial Stakes in a lifetime-best 1:56.1.
As a freshman, Dixieland Band won eight of his 11 starts and earned Horse of the Year honours at the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Awards. Friday's win boosted his career bankroll to $77,335 for P.E.I. owners Reginald MacPherson, David Mackenzie and Aaron Mackenzie, who purchased the Ameripan Gigolo-Divine Justice gelding for $8,100 at the 2013 Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Sale.
Proven Desire was the fastest division winner of the night with a 1:55.4 lifetime-best effort in the other "A" event.
Post eight assignee Proven Desire worked his way to the lead after a :27.4 opening panel and cleared just before midway mark in rein to trainer Marc Campbell. After passing the half in :57 flat, Arnold Dick (Terry Gallant), who held the lead briefly leaving from post one, tipped first up and advanced around Terra Cotta Lad (Kenny Arsenault) into the pocket. Meanwhile, Proven Desire began to open up on top as he raced by three-quarters in 1:26.4 and turned for home. Campbell took a look over his shoulder down the lane as the 3-2 favourite cruised home to win by six and a half lengths. Ultimatelyhandsome (Todd Trites) recovered from an early miscue and went from last to second while Pictonian Edge (Gilles Barrieau) finished third. Arnold Dick was fourth-placed-eighth after causing a flat tire to Terra Cotta Lad at the half.
Proven Desire boasts five wins in seven starts this year, including a victory in the Maritime Breeders Final over Dixieland Band.
The Proven Lover-Shark Like Lady gelding, who was an $8,200 yearling purchase at the 2013 Atlantic Classic Sale, now has $53,630 in career earnings for Charlottetown owners Blair Hansen and Meghan MacDonald, and their partner John Thomas of Dartmouth, N.S.
The $2,500 "B" division winners were the maiden-breaking Textually Active (Articulator-Pictonian Flyer) and Gilles Barrieau in 2:00.3 for trainer Anthony Stymest; R Es Aiden (Force Of Life-Kona Queen) and Rodney Gillis in a career-best 1:59.1 for trainer and co-owner Don Beaton; and Jigtime Arti (Articulator-Gold Luck), who scored his first win in his third career start in 1:59.3 for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald.
Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings will be in the Atlantic Sires Stakes spotlight again on Saturday, July 25 at Truro Raceway.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Summerside Raceway.