Proven Lover came out on top amongst a field of eight pacers with a front-stepping effort in the $7,500 Exhibition Cup Invitational on Saturday night at Truro Raceway.
Proven Lover and trainer/driver Terry Gallant cleared to command past the :27.1 opening quarter in the featured finale and cruised through fractions of :56 and 1:25.1 en route to the 1:54.2 triumph.
He posted a decisive two length margin of victory over Lulus Boy and Clare MacDonald while All Turain rallied home from the backfield to show, four and a half lengths behind, for Marc Campbell. A first over Wild Dragon and Gilles Barrieau faded to fourth.
Proven Lover was a runner-up in the 2010 edition of the Exhibition Cup, finishing just a quarter-length behind winner P H Bestman. More recently, a victory in this year's Governor's Plate at Summerside Raceway also slipped from his grasp after he was first-placed-fifth when the judges ruled he caused interference to Wild Dragon, who inherited the win.
Tonight's victory was Proven Lover's fifth in 11 seasonal starts and 25th lifetime, lifting his bankroll to $461,182.
The nine-year-old son of Real Desire is owned by Casey Gavin of Tignish, P.E.I.
Truro Raceway also played host to Atlantic Sires Stakes on Saturday night with The Rev topping the three-year-old pacing colt division with a 1:57.1 victory in his $7,560 "A" event. Trainer Danny Romo sent the Western Paradise colt first over to wear down J B Bolt and Redmond Doucet for his third ATSS win of the season. He is owned by Robert Skinner and Stephen Tufts of Truro, Jeffrey Skinner of Hammonds Plains and the Glb Stable of Lakeview.
Maritime Breeders Stakes champion Untouchable One returned to victory lane with a 1:57.3 front-stepping score in his division for driver Kenny Arsenault and trainer Sean Dooley. The Carlspur gelding was a fourth length winner over Koultons Rocket and Darren Crowe. He is owned by Dooley Boys Racing Stable of Halifax.
Mr Rock rallied wide from the backfield to take the other division in 1:58 with Ryan Ellis aboard. Trainer Evan Wilson shares ownership of the grey N Xample colt with Paul Cormier of New Victoria. A "B" division winner on June 30 at Inverness Raceway, Mr Rock won by a length over Watersides Kipper and Hilliard Graves.
Trainer/driver Darren Crowe swept both $2,500 "B" divisions with Colbys Comet (1:56.4) and Woodmere Trakeater (1:58.2).
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Truro Raceway.