David Livingstone's Ashestodiamonds ($11.00) avoided early trouble and made easy work of a mid-race challenge from Gotta Love Cabot en route to a convincing score in Sunday's (July 26) $10,810 Nova Scotia Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies at Inverness Raceway.
Trainer-driver Darren Crowe sent the daughter of Betterthancheddar immediately to the lead out of post 5, and the pair were able to avoid a breaking Elm Grove Ocean — who scattered the field — in the act. After controlling a :28.4 quarter, Ashestodiamonds braced for and repelled a first-over challenge from Gotta Love Cabot past a :59.1 half.
After that lone mid-race challenge, there was simply no catching Ashesndiamonds, who sped away to a six-length lead over pocket rival Saulsbrook Ocean to three-quarters in 1:29.1 and maintained nearly that much clearance over the late-rallying pair of Ubettimagoodone and Bellafornow — who finished second and third, respectively — to record a 1:59 victory.
Ashestodiamonds, now a six-time winner, has won four times in seven tries this year.
In the sub-featured $2,250 Johnny and Margaret Allen Ian Memorial, 38-time winner Intended Royalty ($2.40) left his four foes 14 lengths behind in a 1:57 drubbing. Redmond Doucet, who led all drivers with three wins on the nine-race card, drove the nine-year-old No Pan Intended gelding for Randy and Edward Copley.
To view Sunday's full results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Inverness Raceway.