There was wall-to-wall Atlantic Sires Stakes action on the go at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Monday afternoon, as the historic half-miler featured eight divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings
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The divisions were split right down the middle, with four “A” events worth $7,080 apiece and four “B” tilts worth $2,500.
Kingofthecastle stepped to a career-best clocking of 1:56 in the opening “A” division for trainer/driver Earl Smith. The son of Western Success-Bourgeois Baby survived a first-over trip to win in going away fashion over War Dancer and Porthill Gatsby.
The gelding went winless in two starts as a rookie, but he now owns a 6-1-0 record in 11 starts this season for owners Kyle Gardiner of Cardigan and Joseph Gardiner of Mount Stewart, PE.
Stars Xample extended his win streak to three-in-a-row after turning in a career-best clocking of 1:56.1 in the second split. Trainer/driver Terry Gallant rolled the son of N Xample-Hidden Assets through panels of :29.4, :58.2 and 1:27.3 before kicking home in :28.3 to win by more than four lengths over Island Historic and Ellindale Rocket.
Catherine MacNeil of Albert Bridge, NS holds the papers on the colt, who owns a 9-1-1 record from 11 starts this season after assembling a 5-1-2 record in 11 starts as a rookie. The winner’s share of the purse bumped his earnings to $35,347.
Seawind Dropper pushed his win streak to four-in-a-row thanks to a 1:56.4 triumph in the third division for trainer/driver Phil Pinkney. The son of Drop Off-Seawind Alpha threw down fractions of :29, :58 and 1:27.3 before sprinting home in :29.1 to post the half-length decision over Saulsbrook Quick. Ultimate Success took home the show dough.
Caneast Standards Inc. of Berwick, NS owns the gelding, who has compiled a 6-2-2 record in 12 starts after going unraced as a freshman. The career-best performance bumped his lifetime earnings to $12,452.
Roscoes Child also earned a new speed badge thanks to his 1:58.1 victory in the final division for trainer/driver Marc Campbell. The son of Collector Rd-Short Cut Maggie came first-over and got up for the half-length score over Rocky Bubba. Pictonian Leo rounded out the top three.
Selkirk Stable of Belfast, PE owns the gelding, who is 3-for-12 this season after going winless in seven starts as a rookie. The victory bumped his earnings over $10,000.
The $2,500 “B” divisions went to Forever Finesse (1:59.4), Igoddabegood (1:59.4), Cruising Kyler (1:58.4) and Woodmere Finaldrop (1:59.3).
To view Monday afternoon’s harness racing results, click here.