Woodmere Twigs overcame a post-seven draw to upset at 12-1 in the second $17,560 Atlantic Sires Stakes (ATSS) A division for two-year-old pacing fillies and gave trainer Adam Merner his second of three wins at Truro Raceway on Friday, July 3.
She was a length off the gate at the start but drove forward past two rivals into the first turn to take a seat in fifth. Ys Fancy Speed (Marc Campbell) declined the four-hole, instead marching on to take control from Imafancyfilly (Corey MacPherson) passing the quarter in :29.2, and she led to the half in :58.2. The pacesetter’s advantage swelled coming onto the backstretch as pocket-sitting Imafancyfilly went on a gallop and scattered the three rivals behind her. Woodmere Twigs started her rally at that point for Merner as she followed the advancing Isle B Ur Diamond (Darryl MacLean) through three-quarters in 1:28.2, then shifted wider on the last turn. She reached the stretch with a head of steam and mowed down Ys Fancy Speed, winning by a half-length in 1:58.4. Isle B Ur Diamond was third.
Woodmere Twigs won her first start following a third-place finish in her only qualifier, individually timed in 2:06.1 at Charlottetown Driving Park. The daughter of Blood Money-Very Ideal Hanover, owned by Runningonempty of Stanhope, P.E.I., went for $19,000 at the Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale. She paid $26.90 to win.
Woodmere Twigs was part of a natural hat trick by Merner to close out the 10-race card. The trainer also piloted his Maintenance Man ($2.90) to victory in 1:55.3 in the eighth race and won the finale with a dominant Sports Teller ($2.30) in 1:56.2. Merner’s trainees have won 20 times this year in 91 starts, giving him a 22 per cent win rate.
Sheeowtime Speed enjoyed the stakes limelight in her career debut as the Earl Watts trainee powered to a first-up 1:57.3 victory in the first ATSS A division.
Marc Campbell floated the odds-on favourite away from post four, holding her wide through the first turn before pulling her into the five-hole nearing a :28.3 first quarter. He gathered momentum with the filly and launched her out uncovered nearing three-eights, and Sheeowtime Speed marched up to the wheel of leader Country Rhythm (Myles Heffernan Sr.) passing the half in :59.3. She glided by the pacesetter with ease down the backside, clearing her after three-quarters in 1:29.1, and grew her lead to 2-1/4 lengths for a motionless Campbell down the stretch. Country Rhythm finished second, three lengths further clear of Rosetown Aurora (Corey MacPherson).
Sheeowtime Speed brought the co-fourth-highest price of the 2025 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale at $46,000 on a winning bid from Windemere Farms of Springvale, P.E.I. and Matt and David Burke of Stratford, P.E.I. The daughter of Somewhere Fancy-Betty Hill qualified with a 2:02.1 win on June 18 at Charlottetown and picked up a $7,902 winner’s cheque in her debut Friday. She returned $3.40 at the windows.
Campbell used a similar trip in his $6,000 ATSS B division win with Starship Daisy, who marched uncovered from sixth to strike the front on the backstretch and went on to a convincing victory in 2:01.2 for trainer Earl Watts.
To view Friday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)