Making her sophomore debut in Atlantic Sires Stakes action on Friday, July 5 at Truro Raceway, Oceanview Daisy broke the long-standing track record for trotting fillies with an impressive performance for the Heffernans.
Driven by Myles Heffernan Sr. and trained by Myles Heffernan Jr., Oceanview Daisy won a $12,480 division of the Atlantic Sires Stakes in 1:59.1 to knock three-fifths of a second off the track record for three-year-old trotting fillies. The former record was set by Dunmore Skye in the Atlantic Sires Stakes on Aug. 2, 1997.
Leaving from post two with favourite Gettin Lit (Mike McGuigan) breaking stride to her outside off the gate, Oceanview Daisy sprinted out to an early five-length lead through a :28.2 opening quarter and continued to front the gapped out field through middle splits of :58.1 and 1:28.1 en route to the career-best triumph. Dusty Lane Darby (Adam Merner) tried to keep up with the winner, finishing 1-3/4 lengths behind, while the next best filly checked in more than 24 lengths in arrears. The winner returned $15.20 at 6-1 odds.
Oceanview Daisy, who won three of her eight starts as a freshman and earned $17,755, now races for owners Jackie Heffernan of Summerville, P.E.I., and Barry Peter MacLeod of Cardigan, P.E.I. The E L Rocket-Summerhill Hallie filly was bred by Bill Roloson of Belfast, P.E.I.
Reigning Atlantic Breeders Crown divisional champion Dusty Lane Wee won the other three-year-old trot in 2:00.1 with Marc Campbell aboard for trainer Lenny Myers.
Dusty Lane Wee led all the way through fractions of :29.2, 1:01.2 and 1:30.4 before holding off her main rivals, as pocket-sitter Gettin Tipsy (Mike McGuigan) closed at the pylons to get within three-quarters of a length and the first-over favourite, Rocket Blast (Corey MacPherson), chased in third. Dusty Lane Wee paid $7.50 to win as the 5-2 second choice.
Also a daughter of E L Rocket, the filly out of Kims PJs improved her record to 8-2-2 from 15 career starts while her earnings topped the $50,000 mark for breeder Ronnie Gass of Cornwall, P.E.I. and co-owner Garry MacDonald of Dundas, Ont.
Trainer/driver Mike McGuigan kicked off the card with a sweep of the $12,520 two-year-old trotting divisions. McGuigan debuted E L Rocket fillies Supreme Rockette (2:03) and Oceanview Nikki (2:05), both popular wire-to-wire winners. The former, who just missed Dusty Lane Wee's divisional track record by one-fifth of a second, is a homebred for James Whalen Jr. of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. The latter filly, a half-sister to past Atlantic Breeders Crown champions Seanchai and Oceanview Kate, was bred by Bill Roloson, and races for Blue Diamond Racing of Emyvale, P.E.I., and Josh MacDonald of Little Pond, P.E.I.
Saulsbrook Inferno and Lorne Valley Liv also won at first asking in a pair of $12,520 Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.
In the first division, Jafetica (Myles Heffernan Sr.) crossed to command into the first turn, but was looped by the Marc Campbell-driven Saulsbrook Inferno as they arrived at the opening quarter in :28.2. The new leader continued to show the way past the half in :59.4 before Woodmere Flojo (Corey MacPherson) swept up from third and went head-to-head with the co-favourite on top as they raced by three-quarters in 1:30.4. Saulsbrook Inferno fought back as they turned for home and prevailed over a resurgent Woodmere Flojo at the end by a quarter-length in 1:58.4. Jafetica finished more than four lengths back in third.
Earl Watts trains the victorious Flameproof Hanover filly, who was a $25,000 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale purchase for P.E.I. owners Windemere Farms of Springvale, Hollis Newson of Cornwall, Sterling Buchanan of Bonshaw and Jack Quinn of Charlottetown. She was bred by Saulsbrook Stables Inc. of Windsor, N.S. and Rebecca Hamilton of Hamilton, Ont.
Lorne Valley Liv topped Pandemonic in a 1-2 finish for trainer Myles Heffernan Jr. After following inside leaver Pandemonic (Myles Heffernan Sr.) in the pocket through opening panels of :30 and 1:01.4, driver Adam Merner gave Lorne Valley Liv her cue as they raced past three-quarters in 1:32 and matched strides with her stablemate through the final turn before pulling 1-3/4 lengths clear at the end for the 2:01.4 debut victory. Pandemonic settled for second and Ruthless Diva (Ken Murphy) bested favourite Saltwater Swinger (Mike McGuigan) for third.
The winning homebred daughter of Tobago Cays is owned Barry Peter MacLeod of Cardigan Bay, P.E.I.
A pair of $6,000 'B' divisions for the two-year-old pacing fillies was also contested. Trained by Melissa Rennie, the Articulator filly Howmac Artislast dominated the first 'B' group, winning by 13-1/2 lengths in 2:00.2 with Adam Merner along for the ride. A daughter of Malicious, Howmac Maleficent lasted on the lead for a 2:01.3 score by a quarter-length over the favoured Rennie trainee Lady Llamrei in the other split with Ken Murphy driving for trainer Joseph Baxter.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Oceanview Daisy from a previous win)