New stars emerged in the Atlantic Sires Stakes as rookie pacing colts faced off in round two of the series at Truro Raceway during Friday evening's card, which also featured the Frank & Beth Stanfield Memorial Stakes for sophomore fillies.
Rotten Ronnie broke his maiden in the first of two $8,860 'A' divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for driver/owner Redmond Doucet.
Making his third career start for trainer Lennan MacIsaac, the Malicious-Victory Cry colt got out to a quick three-length lead during a :29 quarter then cruised through middle splits of :59.4 and 1:29.4 en route to victory in 1:58.4. He paid $15 to win. Steel Reefer, the favoured first leg winner driven by Gilles Barrieau, advanced into the pocket spot early and followed one length behind for second while a first-up Moneyorroses edged out California Jack for third.
Woodmere Stealdeal is off to a perfect start in his career, adding a second Atlantic Sires Stakes triumph to his resume during Friday's action. Matching his 1:57.1 mark set in last week's opening leg at Summerside and coming close to the Truro divisional track record, the Steelhead Hanover-Very Ideal Hanover gelding was 3-1/2 lengths the best after moving from third to first early on and leading through fractions of :29.3, 1:00 and 1:29.1. Jadensmagicsteel closed through the passing lane to nab second-place over Mr Rielly.
Marc Campbell drove the two-time winner, who returned $3.10 as the 1-2 bettors' choice, for trainer Danny Romo and owners Kevin Dorey and Robert Sumarah.
Driver Gilles Barrieau took a pair of $2,500 'B' divisions leading all the way with Devon Wallace's Silver Jake (Cougar Hall-Paid In Silver) in 1:58.2 and the maiden-breaking Red Dirt Fury (Source Of Pride-Oduya) in 1:59.4 for trainer Kevin MacLean. The former is now perfect in two 'B' Sires Stakes events.
Another 'B' division went to the front-striding Windemere Best Man (Malicious-Art Blanche), a 1:59.1 first-time winner with Adam Merner in the bike for trainer Melissa Rennie. The bay gelding is a half-brother to P H Bestman, who won the Governor's Plate exactly one decade ago then took Truro's Exhibition Cup Invitational two weeks later.
The Frank & Beth Stanfield Memorial was split into three $20,000 divisions, with Streakazana winning the fastest in 1:55.3 -- one-fifth of a second off the divisional track record -- for trainer/driver Marc Campbell and the MCR Streakazana Group.
The daughter of Western Paradise out of Stonebridge Madona defeated the popular pacesetting Dustylane Zambucca (:28, :57.3, 1:26.1) and Corey MacPherson by a half-length, returning $15 for the mild upset. She prevailed off a pocket trip while Lorne Valley Barb advanced first-over and finished third.
Streakazana notched just her third career win from 19 starts and boosted her bankroll to $27,542.
Riding the high of his Governor's Plate victory last weekend, driver Brodie MacPhee worked out a winning trip aboard Atlantic Breeders Crown champion Woodmere Skyroller for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson.
Following up her Atlantic Sires Stakes winning effort from a week ago, the Rollwithitharry-Skylark Hanover filly quickly reset after making a break leaving the gate and took control of the Stanfield field at the quarter pole in :27.1. She cruised through a half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:26.3 before pulling away by two lengths when rivals stacked wide down the backside in pursuit. The time of the mile was 1:56.3. Favourite Na Naa Said So and Doucet won a photo for place over Elm Grove Ocean.
Woodmere Skyroller now has five wins from 14 career starts and nearly $50,000 in earnings. She returned $5.90 to win as the 2-1 second choice.
Favourite Red Dirt Star kept longshot Theskysthelimit at bay while earning a new mark of 1:56.4 in another Stanfield division.
Trained and driven by Gilles Barrieau for owner Daniel Ross, the Malicious-Independent Gal filly won by two lengths after posting panels of :28.2, :59 and 1:27.4. Theskysthelimit inherited the pocket position when a filly in front of her broke stride heading to the final turn then confronted Red Dirt Star into the stretch, but the favourite drew clear at the end of the mile. Rollwithitannie, who was parked from the start, finished third.
Red Dirt Star, a full-sister to the Barrieau-campaigned Maritime stakes star Red Dirt Boomer, is now four-for-five this year and has recorded six wins from 11 starts lifetime with earnings amounting to $21,750.
The two-year-old pacing colts will meet again in the third leg of the Atlantic Sires Stakes on July 25 at Northside Downs. Truro Raceway will host more Atlantic Sires Stakes tomorrow with the three-year-old pacing colts competing on an action-packed 13-race card.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.