Freshman pacing colts and geldings were showcased on Thursday evening (July 20) at Truro Raceway, and driver Marc Campbell captured three of the five Atlantic Sires Stake events carded at the Nova Scotia oval.
In the first $7,340 “A” division of the Atlantic Sires Stake (race 6), Sock It Away ($2.30) made every yard a winning one, controlling the terms en route to a measured 2:00.1 win over Dustylanewesty (Mary Clare MacDonald). Campbell asked the two-year-old Pang Shui-Someone Like You gelding for little in the stretch, keeping a late bid from Dustylanewesty a diminishing three-quarters of a length at bay, while Gringo Star (Adam Merner) finished third.
Kevin MacLean trains Sock It Away, now a two-time winner in as many career starts, for Reginald MacPherson.
Campbell doubled up in the second “A” division (race 8) with Oceanview Magnum ($5.30), mounting a bold middle move out of fourth and not looking back in a 1:58.3 score, also the second of his career in as many tries. Oceanview Magnum pushed clear with seven-sixteenths to go and drew away willingly to a 5-1/2 length triumph, while T M Direct Speed (Todd Trites) narrowly reached second up the open stretch from Mister Dulce (Rodney Gillis), who controlled the early pace before being overpowered by the eventual winner in the middle stages.
Earl Watts trains the Western Paradise-Southview Sally gelding for Harris Johnson, Roger Burns, Claude Poirier, and John Howatt.
The final “A” division went to Half Cut ($10.00), who surged out of traffic in mid-stretch to just reach for a 1:58.4 victory. After stalking Rockin Party (Daniel Romo) and Weekend Atnannies (Michael McGuigan) early and being locked in through the middle stages, Mark Bradley found a lane to angle Half Cut off the pegs in mid-stretch. The pair lifted to just reach over Weekend Atnannies, who pulled pocket in upper stetch, while softened pacesetter Rockin Party was only defeated by a neck.
Tom Weatherbie trains the Stonebridge Terror-Beckys Filly gelding for owners Kyle and Joseph Gardiner, Michael Currie, and Jerry MacKinnon.
A pair of $2,500 “B” divisions anchored the undercard, with Sinnersinparadise ($6.30, Campbell, 2:04.2) and Wilfrid Joseph ($3.10, Kenny Arsenault, 2:01.4) capturing their respective events.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results – Truro Raceway.