Atlantic Sires Stakes for freshmen pacing colts headlined Wednesday’s card at Charlottetown Driving Park and horseman Mike Stevenson enjoyed a driving hat trick with a pair of “A” division victories and one in a “B” division
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After getting away sixth in the seven-horse field, favourite Mr Salming and Stevenson rallied from third-over in the stretch to win the first $9,040 “A” division in 1:57.3 by half a length over his stablemate Island Redemption (Gilles Barrieau). Putnams Force (Ryan Ellis) finished third.
The Coastocoast Yankee-First To Fly colt notched his second straight ATSS win in five starts for trainer Gillies Barrieau and owners Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I. lifting his bankroll to $12,398.
Stevenson returned to the winner’s circle in the next “A” split aboard one of his own pupils, Clay Mater, who survived a first-over journey to upset at odds of 11-1. The Largo-Ms Crawford County colt stopped the clock in 1:58.2 with a seven and a quarter length advantage on the field. Fitelle (Walter Cheverie) was the runner-up and Ultimate Yankee (Robert Laffin) rounded out the top three.
Ross also owns Clay Mater, who won for the first time in five tries.
Stevenson also took a trip down victory lane with Woodmere Fools Son in one of five $2,500 “B” divisions featured on the card. Trained by Glenn MacKay for Eric Johnston of Miscouche, P.E.I., the son of Western Success-Whos Foolin Who notched his second win in five starts giving him $2,500 in earnings.
The final “A” division on the card went to favourite Allbentouttashape, who rallied off second-over cover to prevail by a length and a quarter over the pacesetter Dr Alexander B (Shane Bernard) in career-best 1:58.1. T M Top Gun (Darren Crowe) rounded out the top three.
The Quick Comeback-C A Lady gelding, trained by Sean Dooley for the Dooley Boys Racing Stable of Halifax, N.S., has won five times and finished second twice in seven starts. His earnings now total $20,606.
The other “B” division winners were Woodmere Jethro (2:01.2), Grayland Spider (2:03), Camco Omally (1:59.2) and Fit To Ben Tied (2:03.1).
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click here.