Truro To Host Atlantic Sires Stakes And Rookie Cup

Up Helly AA winning the 2021 Atlantic Breeders Crown
Published: July 18, 2022 02:02 pm EDT

A number of two-year-old pacing fillies as well as two- and three-year-old trotters will try to keep their win streaks going during Atlantic Grand Circuit week.

First up, the Atlantic Sires Stakes two and three-year-old trotters will be in action on Tuesday, July 19 at Truro Raceway.  Two-year-old trotter Irish Ray (Marc Campbell) will try to make it two in a row when he lines up in Race 3 with his other four rivals going for a purse of $13,360.

Two divisions of three-year-old trotters racing for a purse of $7,600 will go behind the gate in Races 4 and 6.  Headline Howie (Mike McGuigan)  and Up Helly Aa (Kenny MacDonald) will look to continue their winning ways in their respective assignments.

Also on the Tuesday night program will be two A divisions of two-year-old pacing fillies racing for $9,160. Itsuptoyou, trained by Kevin MacLean and driven by Jason Hughes, is the morning line favourite in her Race 8 division and will leave from post four while Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson) and Marina Del Rey (Mark Campbell) are also top contenders. The second A division goes off as Race 10 and Elm Grove Redwine (David Dowling) will be looking to keep her win record intact.

Points earned in each Atlantic Sires Stakes trotting event and 'A' division pacing event go towards earning a spot in the season-ending Atlantic Breeders Crown Championships.

Atlantic Sires Stakes Action continues Friday evening at the Truro oval featuring the two-year-old pacing colts.

The second leg of the Gamester-Pinkney Memorial Cup for drivers 30 years old and younger with less than 100 wins will take place in Races 5 and 7 on the Tuesday card.  The event is named in honour of two late advocates in supporting young people evolving in Atlantic Canada harness racing, Byron Gamester of Glen Valley, P.E.I., and Phil Pinkney of Lower Onslow, N.S.  

Leander Beaton will drive the fifth race favourite, Lobel Bruiser, in the first Gamester-Pinkney event. Sunny Billion, leaving from the rail, has Zach Mullins, and third choice Preceptor will be driven by Ryder Matthews Rennsion. The first division also includes Coot Cobbler (Luke Armstrong), Tymal Charmer (Brett LeBlanc) and Bettor Dance (Kyle Gillis). 

The second division in Race 7 has Camco Willow (Leander Beaton) favoured and the other top rivals are Artsleek (Brett LeBlanc) and Dontstandinmyway (Ryder Matthews Rennison). Rounding out the field are Go With It (Luke Armstrong),  Saulsbrook Flicka, (Kyle Gillis) and Junesbug Baby (Zach Mullins)

A point system will be used to determine the top driver, who will receive the Pinkney Memorial Trophy as well as a certificate for a new driving helmet sponsored by Duane LeBlanc of Truro, N.S.,and Ben Hollingsworth of Ontario. The top three drivers in the competition will then join the top three pilots from the July 12 leg in Summerside, P.E.I. in the final set for August 16 at Red Shores Charlottetown during Old Home Week to determine the overall 2022 winner.

The second leg is presented by the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association in partnership with Meridian Farms of Calgary, Alta., and sponsor Peter Francis Insurance Services Inc.

Post time is 7 p.m.

To view Tuesday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Tuesday Entries - Truro Raceway.

(With files from Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association)

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