History was made on Saturday (July 24) at Northside Downs as the Atlantic Sires Stakes made its first stop of the season in Cape Breton.
With just five horses declared, a single division of sophomore pacing colts went postward for a stout $16,240 purse. All eyes were on Woodmere Stealdeal, making his first start at Northside since his 1:56.2 track record performance almost one year ago to the day (July 25, 2020). He was sent off as the favourite from the rail, but Rotten Ronnie definitely wanted to play the spoiler.
Driver Redmond Doucet fired Rotten Ronnie to the lead against Woodmere Stealdeal, driven by Marc Campbell. Rotten Ronnie cleared to the lead, Campbell thought about testing the pacesetter but Doucet kept the tempo honest through a :28 opener and stayed on top through a :56.2 half.
Woodmere Stealdeal did benefit from a tuck in the pocket through that opening half, but the battle was on for the back half. Campbell had the favourite back out and challenging at the five-eighths mark with the two sophomores trading blows through a sharp 1:25 third panel. They continued to pace into the far turn with little separating the front pair and it appeared to be either colt's race to win at the head of the lane. Rotten Ronnie would not be denied, summoning his reserves to kick home in :28.3 to trip the timer two lengths the best in an all-age track record time of 1:53.3. Woodmere Stealdeal finished second, ahead of third-the-mile Woodmere Alvin (Mike McGuigan).
The time of the mile shaves two full seconds off the three-year-old pacing colt mark (The Rev, 1:55.3 in 2013) and nearly two full seconds off the three-year-old male pacer mark (Proven Desire, 1:55 in 2015). DGs Gamme held the all-age mark of 1:54.1, also set in 2015.
Doucet co-owns Rotten Ronnie (Malicious - Victory Cry) along with Andy Stewart of Inverness, N.S. Trained by Len MacIsaac, the three-year-old picked up with third win in five sophomore starts and earned a new lifetime mark in the process. The win lifts his earnings over the $32,000 mark.
A single $3,000 AtSS 'B' division was contested, and Doucet came right back to win aboard Windemere Best Man. The Stanley Harper trainee held off Hughie Ray (Alex MacDonald) to win by a neck in 1:59.2 for owners Simon Poirier and Chad MacDonnell of Inverness, N.S.
Johnnie Jack finished first in the $1,500 Winners Over but was was placed second for interference to first-over challenger Southwind Ricardo in the stretch drive. That decision placed Southwind Ricardo, the longest shot on the toteboard at 14-1, into the winner's circle for the second straight week. Shawn Lynk handled the lines on Southwind Ricardo, now a 41-time winner in his career, for trainer Harold Le Blanc and co-owners Joel Le Blanc of Victoria Mines, William Seymour and Bernie Gillis of Glace Bay, N.S. The eight-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again - Southwind Rio now sports $111,043 in earnings.
To view the results for the Saturday card of harness racing from Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.