It was a stakes-filled Tuesday at Truro Raceway as the half-mile oval rolled out the red carpet for some of the stars of the Atlantic Sires Stakes program.
Irish Ray is undefeated is his first two tries thanks to a dominant triumph in the lone $13,360 ‘A’ division for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
The son of Muscle Through It-Highly Organized sped to the top and knifed out fractions of :30.1, 1:00.3 and 1:32 before cruising home in :31 to win by nine lengths over Getting Salty in 2:03. Windemeregotmuscle took home third prize.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, the gelding posted the impressive win for trainer/driver Marc Campbell. Three Wisemen Stable of
Headline Howie extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row thanks to his 2:02.3 triumph in the first of two ‘A’ divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Trainer/driver Michael McGuigan treated the gelding to a two-hole trip behind Cadillac, who supplied fractions of :30.4, 1:00.2 and 1:31. Headline Howie then kicked home in :31.2 to haul down that foe and win by 2-1/2 lengths in 2:02.3. Cadillac stayed for second while Moonshine Monday wound up third.
James Whelan Jr of
Up Helly AA (pictured above) made it 11 straight wins for Team MacDonald thanks to his 2:02.2 triumph in the second division.
Ken MacDonald got away second with the Clare MacDonald trainee and held that position for the first three-quarters of the mile while Majian Raptor carved out fractions of :30.1, 1:01.3 and 1:32.4. Up Helly AA went after the leader going to the three-quarter pole and then kicked home in :29.3 to earn the win by 5-1/2 lengths over King In The North. Majian Raptor was third. Time for the mile was 2:02.2.
Riley Farms Ltd of
Rosetown Mary turned a two-hole trip into a maiden-breaking score in the lone ‘A’ division for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Trainer/driver Corey MacPherson dropped her into the pocket while Itsuptoyou rolled the field through panels of :29.3, 1:00 and 1:31. Rosetown Mary popped out late and scooted home in :29.2 to win by a length over race favourite Itsuptoyou in 2:00.3. Too Much For You rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Kerry Taylor, Emily Taylor and Lisa Richards share ownership on the daughter of Pang Shui-Brodys Leona. The win improved her record to 1-1-0 from two attempts and it bumped her bankroll to $8,282.
Woodmere Jade nabbed a maiden-breaking win in the second division for Team Heffernan.
Myles Heffernan Sr. sent the Myles Heffernan Jr.-trained miss to the lead and after slicing out splits of :29, :59.4 and 1:29 she then used a :30.2 final frame to win by a length over race favourite Elm Grove Redwine in 1:59.2. Howmac Julia was third.
Sent off at odds of 13-1, the daughter of Rollwithitharry-LTs Magic posted the victory for owner Jackie Heffernan of
In the lone $3,000 ATSS division for two-year-old pacing fillies it was Howmac Jazzy Girl who rallied from last to win in 2:03 for the tandem of driver Damian MacLellan and trainer Wade Sorrie.
The daughter of Pang Shui-Scirocco Miley Kay kicked home in :29.1 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over JJ Aurora.
Sorrie owns the youngster with Walter Simmons of
The second leg of the Gamester-Pinkney Memorial Cup for drivers 30 years old and younger with less than 100 wins took 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.
Team Pinkney will be comprised of Ryder Matthews Rennison, Brett LeBlanc, and Luke Armstrong. That trio of young drivers emerged with the most points in Tuesday's competition with Rennison (22), LeBlanc (21) and Armstrong (16) garnering the most points in the two dashes. They will compete in the finals during Old Home Week on August 16 at Red Shores Charlottetown against Team Gamester: Kyle Mason, Paul Conway and Taylor Doyle.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Truro Raceway.