Kevin Dorey and Robert Sumarah's Woodmere Stealdeal ($2.60) kept his unblemished record intact with a commanding 1:55.4 win in the first of two $9,060 Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' events for rookie pacing colts and geldings on Sunday (Aug. 2) at Inverness Raceway.
The Steelhead Hanover gelding settled into third behind early pacesetter Dollars And Spence (Redmond Doucet) through a :27.3 first quarter before Marc Campbell gave him his cue to advance into a :57.1 half. On the second circuit, Woodmere Stealdeal took charge and opened up a three-length lead on Dollars And Spence — who gave way without a fight — on his way to three-quarters in 1:26.3.
While Dollars And Spence faded through the final turn, Woodmere Stealdeal kept his lead intact over Steel Reefer (Gilles Barrieau), who emerged to take second on the turn. Woodmere Stealdeal however could not be caught, extending his winniing margin to 4-3/4 lengths and registering a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4 in victory. Steele Reefer was second; Woodmere Alvin (Darren Crowe) rallied from last to finish third.
Danny Romo trains Woodmere Stealdeal, who posted open-length wins in earlier Atlantic Sires Stakes events at Summerside, Truro and Northside before his Inverness victory.
In the other male 'A' division, Rotten Ronnie ($3.70) coasted to a 1:58.1 front-end score over Dustylanegoliath and Dusty Lane Morgan. Driver Redmond Doucet owns the Malicious colt, who has won two of his five career starts for trainer Lennan MacIsaac.
Driver Gilles Barrieau swept the trio of $7,040 Sires Stakes 'A' divisions for rookie pacing fillies that served as co-featured events on the 14-race card, winning with Maggiesdelight, Woodmere Stella and Vicky Everyday.
Maggiesdelight ($5.60) stalked a middle-half duel between Tobins Brownie and Woodmere Leah before finding room in the stretch and reaching to win by a half length in 1:59.3. Trainer Michelle Myers co-owns the Steelhead Hanover filly, now a two-time winner after capturing a 'B' division in her career debut, with Roger MacDonald.
Woodmere Stella ($4.20) ground her way to a 2:00.2 victory, sustaining a sweeping bid out of midfield to eclipse The Real McCoy and Somebodys Me in upper stretch and draw away by 2-1/4 lengths for the first win of her career. Earl Smith trains the daughter of Steelhead Hanover for the Next Generation Stable.
Vicky Everyday ($24.30) was the longest priced stakes winner on the card, coasting through comfortable middle sectionals of 1:00.2 and 1:30.1 before fending off a stern bid from Little Miss Ava to break maiden by a half length in 2:00. Paul Conway owns and trains the Cougar Hall filly.
Two $2,500 Sires Stakes 'B' events — one for each sex — were also contested, with California Jack ($2.40, Greg Sparling, 2:01.4) and Mystifyiing ($7.50, Darryl MacLean, 2:02.1) capturing their respective heats.
In the overnight feature, a $1,250 winners-over pace, 10-year-old veteran Dashpedia ($4.90) dictated the pace throughout and held off a two-pronged stretch threat from Lyons Jennilee and Modern Best to win in 1:57.2. Marc Campbell drove the Bettors Delight gelding to his 37th career win for Evan Gillis, Jacob Copley and Ryan Copley.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Inverness Raceway.