Capitalizing on hot early fractions, Woodmere Stealdeal was able to keep his perfect record intact while establishing a new Northside Downs track standard in Atlantic Sires Stakes action on Saturday (July 25).
Competing in the second of two $9,160 AtSS divisions, Woodmere Stealdeal and driver Clare MacDonald allowed Dollars And Spence (Redmond Doucet) to cut the mile, with an uncontested :28.1 first quarter and :57.4 half under the pressure of Mr Rielly (Corey MacPherson). Mr Rielly tucked in briefly heading down the backstretch before taking another shot at the pacesetter through a sizzling 1:26.1 third station. MacDonald pounced on those hard-used rookies, launching Woodmere Stealdeal three-wide around the final turn. At the head of the stretch, Woodmere Stealdeal had clear sailing and sprinted home to win by four in a lifetime best 1:56.2. Mr Rielly and Dollars And Spence completed the top three.
The time of the mile shaved two-fifths of a second off the former track mark for freshman pacing colts & geldings of 1:56.4, set by Oceanview Magnum in 2017.
Trained by Danny Romo for owners Kevin Dorey of Middle Sackville and Robert Sumarah of Halifax, N.S., Woodmere Stealdeal (Steelhead Hanover - Very Ideal Hanover) is perfect in three outings and the winner's share of the purse lifted his bankroll to $14,363.
Moneyororses was a dramatic last-to-first winner in the first $9,160 division, flying down the stretch to notch his maiden-breaking victory. Steve Shepherd was fourth and last with Moneyorroses at every call of the mile, except the last one when it counts the most. Rotten Ronnie (Doucet) was on top early from the rail, hitting the first station in :29.3 before being confronted by Dusty Lane Morgan (MacDonald). Those two tussled through the 1:00 halfway point and 1:29.1 third station. Turning for home, it appeared pocket sitter Jadensmagicsteel (Adam Merner) would have room to skim he pylons and make a late bid but Shepherd had another ideas, launching Moneyorroses into the three path and the colt exploded with late pace to win by a length over Rotten Ronnie in 1:58.2. Jadensmagicsteel rounded out the top three.
Trained and owned by Harold Shepherd along with co-owners Patrick Shepherd of Waterdown and Robert Woodburn of St. Thomas, Ont., Moneyorroses (Cougar Hall - Allamerican Kelli) now sports a 1-0-2 summary from three starts with the win lifting his bankroll to $7,519.
An assigned post six in the $1,500 Winners Over Pace was not an issue for the red-hot Runaway Mystery and driver Harold Leblanc Jr., a resolute winner in 1:59.1. Eastview Dexter (Mark Pezzarello) took a shot at the favourite and had the lead on the outside through the three quarter mark and into the head of the stretch, but Runaway Mystery battled back in the stretch to win by half a length in 1:59.1 over Eastview Dexter and Accelerator (Greg Sparling).
A six-time winner from seven starts this season, Runaway Mystery (Mister Big - Phoenix Arcane) is trained and owned by Harold Leblanc along with Gus Burns of New Waterford, N.S.
The stable of Heather Hawkins was perfect on the afternoon, with three horses sent out and three horses victorious. Gerard Kennedy engineered each win guiding Elm Grove Ladyluck ($11.80, 2:01.2), Sunny Beach ($3.60, 1:59.4) and Burn Em Up Burr ($4.10, 2:00) to wire-to-wire tallies.
To view the results from Saturday card of harness racing at Northside, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.