Tuesday (July 18) evening at Truro Raceway faced no shortage of history in the making as the card featured a career win streak, fallen track records, the Atlantic Sires Stakes and a driver's challenge.
Three-year-old Irish Ray is writing his own history books as he earned his 13th victory in 13 career starts.
In the $15,720 Atlantic Sires Stakes for sophomore trotters, Irish Ray and Marc Campbell were the bettors' choice from the far outside in the field of seven. Campbell held nothing back with his trainee as they took the lead and never looked back. Irish Ray controlled the timer through panels in :28.4, :59.4 and 1:30.4 before pedalling to a three-length achievement in 2:00.3. Windemeregotmuscle (Jason Hughes) finished second and Gettin Salty (Adam Merner) took third.
Irish Ray equalled his career best time in his division of the ATSS while moving his career bankroll to $84,460 for owner Three Wisemen Stable.
Dusty Lane Wee and Oceanview Daisy each won an $8,960 division of the ATSS for two-year-old trotters and each clocked a time that bested the previous two-year-old trotting filly track record of 2:04.4, originally set by Paymenowpaymelater.
Dusty Lane Wee was up first in her field of six as she set the standard for the track record time. Similar to his own trainee, Campbell steered Dusty Lane Wee gate-to-wire through fractions in :31.1, 1:02.3 and 1:33.1 before winning by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:02.4 for trainer Leonard Myers. Rocket Blast (Corey MacPherson) was second and Pay Me My Money (Kenny Arsenault) finished third.
Owned by Garry MacDonald and Ronnie Gass, Dusty Lane Wee earned her first career victory in two starts. She paid $7.60 to win.
Oceanview Daisy followed the performance displayed by Dusty Lane Wee and conquered the former track record, but was unable to overtake the new mark of 2:02.4. In her field of six, Oceanview Daisy and Ken Murphy led the field through the quarter in :30.1 and half in 1:01.3. A miscue at the three-quarters in 1:32.3 sent the Jeff Holmes trainee off stride and back by 4-1/2 lengths. Gettin Tipsy (Michael McGuigan) took over the lead followed by Camco Laraido (Campbell). Around the final turn, Oceanview Daisy dug in to pass the leaders and win by a generous three lengths in 2:03.2. Gettin Tipsy finished second with Camco Laraido third.
The win was the second in two starts for Oceanview Daisy, who is owned by Hardcore Racing. She paid $2.40 to win.
The three $9,000 ATSS "A" divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies went to Shesjusmsundrstood (Hughes, 2:00), Oh Artleigh (Darren Crowe, 2:01.1) and Eenymeenyminymoe (Paul Langille, 2:00). Rollwithitdarling (Campbell, 2:00.4) took the sole $4,000 ATSS "B" division of the evening.
Barefoot Bud led gate-to-wire through splits in :27.3, :57.1, and 1:28.2 to take the Gamester - Pinkney Drivers Challenge by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:01.1. Monica Sutherland was in the bike for trainer and owner Andrew Campbell as they collected the winner's share of the $1,475 purse. Sunny Billion (Kyle Mason) took second and Philthebank (Keigan Madden) rounded out the top three. Barefoot Bud paid $7.70 to win.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Truro Raceway.