Fresh off a win in Summerside’s Governor’s Plate, Outlawpositivcharg returned to the winner’s circle after defeating his six rivals in the $8,000 Northside Downs Invitational Pace at North Sydney, N.S. on Saturday
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Trained and driven by Terry Gallant for owner Fred Lamont of Calgary, Atla., the even-money favourite left from Post 5 and eased his way through panels of :29.3, :58.2 and 1:27.3 before sprinting home in :29.1 to seal the deal. Outlawpositivcharg stopped the clock in 1:56.4 over a track rated two seconds off, finishing two and a quarter lengths ahead of Cruisinart (Keith Dicks). Riccaras Sun (Clare MacDonald) rounded out the top three. The time of the mile was one-fifth of a second off Lexus Bandito's track record set in 2007.
Outlawpositivcharg improved his seasonal record to 7-3-1 in 11 starts and lifted his winnings to $22,638. The five-year-old Blissful Hall gelding has won 22 times in his career good for $91,294 in purses.
In the $2,500 Frank Corbett MLA Junior Invitational, Lexus Bandito launched a first-over bid from fourth at three-quarters and used a :30.3-second final frame to triumph in 1:59.3 as the pacesetter, J Gs Hangman (Greg Sparling) faded to fifth. The favoured nine-year-old Rustler Hanover gelding won by a length and a quarter over Odyssey Killean (Edgar Jacobs) with Shifty Shadow (John Hawco) coming in third.
The Heather Hawkins pupil now sports a 2009 record reading 3-4-1 in 11 starts with $3,224 earned. He has earned $94,538 in his career and made 47 trips to winner’s circle.
A lone $15,920 Atlantic Sires Stakes “A” division for three-year-old pacing fillies was also featured on Saturday’s 15-race program and Southview Spirit rallied from off the pace to win in 2:00.3 giving Walter Cheverie his 2,000th driving win.
Trained by Charles McGee for owners Elwood Lawton of Stratford and Arleen Harris of Cornwall, P.E.I., the Western Paradise filly won by a length over Larshegoes (Ken MacDonald) while Elleofnxample (Clare MacDonald) finished third.
Southview Spirit has won six times this season in eight starts and has yet to finish off the board earning $31,182. The 11-time winner has banked $66,758 in her career.
The winners of the two $2,500 ATSS “B” divisions were Island Quick Cash (2:03) and Island Character (2:03.3).
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.