Northside Downs will host the top Atlantic Sires Stakes two-year-old fillies and colts and the two and three-year-old trotters on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Two-year-old trotters will race for purses of $12,320 in Races 1 and 3. Mike McGuigan-trained and driven trotters are the morning line favourites in both races: first leg winner Supreme Rockette (Post 2, Race 1) and undefeated Oceanview Nikki (Post 1, Race 3).
Three-year-old trotters will race for a purse of $23,440 in a full field of eight going behind the gate in Race 5. Trainer Carl Bagnall's Rocket Blast (Corey MacPherson) is the morning line favourite from the rail coming off a P.E.I. Colt Stakes victory while Oceanview Daisy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) from Post 4 and Dusty Lane Wee (Marc Campbell) in Post 6 round out the top three contenders.
Two divisions of 'A' fillies will see action in Races 7 and 11, each going for a purse of $11,640. Saulsbrook Inferno (David Dowling) is the morning line favourite in the first division with Post 3 for trainer Earl Watts and Woodmere Flojo (Adam Merner) headlines the field in the second event from post four for trainer Jamie Smith. Both fillies have earned one win and a second in the previous Sires Stakes legs.
Two-year-old colts race for purses of $12,300 in the 'A' divisions in Races 2 and 9. Trainer/driver Darryl MacLean's undefeated Im Sir Scarlet (pictured above) looks to keep his win streak going after a pair of impressive starts. He will start from the outside post five in the second split.
There will also be three 'B' divisions -- two colt divisions and one filly division -- each racing for $6,000.
Two other dashes on the card will feature the Gamester – Pinkney Memorial Cup driving challenge for pari-mutuel licensed drivers 30 years and younger with less than 100 lifetime wins as of May 31, 2024. Seven drivers representing the Phil Pinkney leg for Nova Scotia will compete in Races 6 and 10. The top four drivers will move on to the final on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Summerside Raceway and compete against the finalists from the P.E.I. leg. Wendy MacRae Custom Suits has generously sponsored a new spring-summer suit to the winner of the overall driver for both legs.
The Nova Scotia drivers competing in Saturday's leg include Ryder Rennison, Keith Legge, Damian MacLellan, Zach Mullins, Brett LeBlanc, Monica Sutherland and Keigan Madden.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Northside Downs.
(With files from Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association)