Fans at Summerside Raceway were treated to a terrific card on Tuesday evening thanks to the variety of trotting stars battling in the Atlantic Sires Stakes in addition to a track record-setting performance by an overdue three-year-old trotting filly.
Taliesin clicked in the first division of the ATSS for three-year-olds for his trainer/driver Marc Campbell. The son of Northern Bailey-Southview Leah was parked to the quarter in :30.4 before clearing and supplying remaining panels of 1:02.4 and 1:33.3 en route to the career-best tally of 2:03.4. It was 2-1/2 lengths back to runner-up Rash Statement, with Ashotinthedark third.
The lion’s share of the $7,400 purse boosted the three-time winner’s career earnings to $23,566. He is owned by Buntainwood Farm.
Oceanview Kate is now 2-for-2 to start the season thanks to his 2:07 triumph in the other division. Mike Stevenson mapped out the wire-to-wire trip for trotter, who was on the hook for fractions of :31.3, 1:05.1 and 1:36.2 before using a :30.3 kicker to seal the deal by 3-3/4 lengths. Crestwave Morning was second best, with Irish Lullaby taking home the show dough.
The son of Northern Bailey-King Kong Kate went 4-for-9 in his rookie year for owner/trainer Bill Roloson. The photogenic performer has banked close to $20,000 to date.
Windemere Image cruised to a seven-length score for co-owner/driver Gary Chappell in the first of three ATSS divisions for the two-year-old trotters. The son of Nikes Image-Windemere Spirit enjoyed a two-hole trip behind B J Comanche through fractions of :33, 1:06 and 1:37.4, but when the leader broke Windemere Image took charge and drew clear to win by an expanding margin over Lets Trade Ladies and Phantom Beau.
Stacey Lund trains the lightly-raced youngster for Chappell, Peter Buchanan, the Estate of George L Boswall and Willard Dunn. The maiden-breaking victory boosted the rookie’s earnings to $2,742.
Villager also turned in a dominant performance in the second division for driver Brian MacPhee. The son of Nikes Image-Ladyville sat third through first-half fractions of :30.4 and 1:03.3 before going first-over and pressing the front-stepping Oceanview Rose to the three-quarter pole in 1:36.3. Villager used a :31.1 closing panel to win by five lengths over Seanchai in 2:08. Oceanview Rose faded to finish third.
Sent off at odds of 15-1 in the six-horse contest, the colt notched his first ever win for trainer/co-owner Gerald McDougall and partner Barry Peter MacLeod. The lion’s share of the purse lifted his earnings to $2,952.
Dusty Lane Galaxy got up in the closing strides to take home top prize in the final division, and in doing so he gave trainer Stacey Lund and driver Gary Chappell the stakes double on the card. The son of PJs Nabby-Starinthesky, who was sent off at odds of 5-1, watched A C Image and Scarlet Macdream take turns on the lead through fractions of :35.1, 1:08.2 and 1:40.3 before rallying by both of them to post the 2:11.4 victory. Runner-up Scarlet Macdream was three-quarters of a length in arrears, with A C Image a distant third in the $5,160 contest.
Peter Buchanan and the Estate of George L Boswall share ownership on the maiden-breaking winner who now boasts a bankroll totaling $2,322.
Howmacs Pride snapped out of a long losing skid by winning a $1,300 conditioned trot for trainer Earl Watts, who watched the filly write her name in the track record book thanks to her 2:00 triumph. The former mark for three-year-old trotting fillies was the 2:01.1 standard set by Final Balance on September 22, 2004.
J K Queen, who was the rabbit in Tuesday’s record-setting performance, chopped out panels of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:29.4 with Howmacs Pride tucked away neatly in the two-hole at odds of 10-1. Gilles Barrieau rallied the Amigo Hall-Wicked Whisper lass into a clear path in the lane and she used a :29.4 closing quarter to prevail by a quarter of a length over Centrifical Force. Duvar Road was third.
Howmac Farms Ltd and Wade Peconi share ownership on the homebred who won for the third time in her career. She’s closing in on $6,000 in lifetime earnings.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Summerside Raceway.