After breaks marred his early-season appearances, Grayland Farm's A Little Go Go ($11.50) put it all together to take Wednesday night's (Aug. 4) lone Atlantic Sires Stakes event for sophomore trotters at Inverness Raceway.
The $14,960 event, which attracted a half dozen three-year-olds, saw A Little Go Go circle the field from post 5 through a :31.3 first quarter. Once on top, the son of Tad The Stud and Starinthesky controlled the terms outright through a 1:01.1 half before staving off a first-over challenge from 1-2 favourite Mr Finlay Ridge past three-quarters in 1:31.2. A Little Go Go dismissed Mr Finlay Ridge's challenge, but Dusty Lane Milo was poised to strike from the pocket turning for home. Undeterred, A Little Go Go and trainer-driver Marc Campbell found enough, reaching the line three-quarters of a length in front in 2:01. Dusty Lane Milo (Adam Merner) proved a game second; Mr Finlay Ridge (Clare MacDonald) faded but held third, 3-3/4 lengths farther behind.
A Little Go Go now has won three times in his career, and his 2:01 score gives him a new lifetime mark.
A pair of $8,260 Atlantic Sires Stakes events for two-year-old trotters served as co-featured events, and two sons of Armbro Barrister — Moonshine Monday ($4.90) and Up Helly AA ($2.90) — proved pillar-to-post winners in their respective divisions.
Moonshine Monday, out of Tymal Marona, won for the second time in four starts, coasting to a 2:08.4 score over 4-5 favourite Cadillac, who gave steady chase to only miss by 2-3/4 lengths after breaking stride early. Myles Heffernan Sr. drove the winner for trainer Myles Heffernan Jr. and owner Jackie Heffernan.
Up Helly AA had to work a good bit harder in his split, but he held his ground under sustained pressure to run his winning streak to three with a one-length, 2:09.2 score over Gettin Allfiredup. Kenny MacDonald drove the colt out of Burnt With Finesse for trainer Clare MacDonald and Riley Farms Ltd.
The overnight feature, a $1,250 winners-over pace, saw Donald Beaton's Daddy Let Me Drive ($13.00) sweep from last to first through the middle half and coast to a 2-1/2-length win over Runaway Mystery in 1:57.2. Rodney Gillis drove the seven-year-old I Can Only Imagine gelding to his 22nd career win.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Inverness Raceway.