Truth Or Dare captured the $4,000 Christine's Cup to wrap up Sunday afternoon's harness racing card at Inverness Raceway, which also featured undefeated three-year-old filly Malabrigo in action during another round of Atlantic Sires Stakes
Leaving from post seven in the finale, Ryan Campbell settled Truth Or Dare into the pocket spot behind veteran pacer Mitchs Ceilidh and played followed the leader through early fractions of :29.4 and :59.1. At the half, Truth Or Dare made his move and swept to command, opening up three lengths on his foes by the 1:28.3 third quarter station. The eight-year-old son of Camluck then cruised home for the 1:59.1 victory with Mitchs Ceilidh following over one length behind. Favourite Art I Special and Redmond Doucet rallied wide from the backfield to show.
Truth Or Dare paid $15.60 for the mild 6-1 upset. Trainer Walter Walker shares ownership of the bay gelding with Kayla Anne Habicht of Inverness, N.S. The victory was his fourth in 11 starts this year and 41st lifetime.
Three-year-old pacing fillies faced off in three $6,920 Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' divisions during the program with Rudy Vance, Malabrigo, and Southfield Sophie earning top honours.
Ruby Vance picked up her first ATSS trophy with a wire-to-wire effort in the first division with trainer Gillies Barrieau aboard. The Articulator-Dealers Choice miss, owned and bred by Wayne Mac Rae of Fall River, N.S., carved out fractions of :30, :59, and 1:28.3 en route to the career-best 1:59 triumph by two and a half lengths over Gilda (Clare MacDonald) and Blackriver Nannie (Redmond Doucet).
Malabrigo kept her sophomore record perfect with another dominant victory in the following division for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Buntainwood Farm of Brackley Beach, P.E.I. The Western Paradise-Lots Abunny filly raced past fractions of :30.2, 1:00.2, and 1:30.2 before hitting the wire in 1:59.1 to notch her eighth straight win (fourth in ATSS). Aprils Dawn Star (Mike Stevenson) finished two lengths behind in second while Armed Force (Ron Matheson) rounded out the top three finishers.
Sent postward as the longest shot on the board at 10-1 in the final split, Southfield Sophie and trainer-driver Terry Gallant advanced first over from third through fractions of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:29.3 before wearing down the popular pacesetter Pictonian Amanda (Mike Stevenson) to win her second ATSS trophy of the year. The 1:58.1 clocking was the fastest sires stakes event of the day. Putyourwhipaway (Marc Campbell) finished three-quarters of a length behind in second while defending Atlantic Breeders Crown champion Pictonian Amanda faded to third in her first 2012 loss. The winning Western Paradise-Ricotta Hanover filly is owned by Southfield Farms Inc. of Summerside, P.E.I.
Two $2,500 'B' divisions were won by Frank Banks' Goodmorninbeautful and Mike Stevenson in 2:01.4 and Glenda Chappell's Heap A Faith in a maiden-breaking 2:03 for trainer-driver Terry Gallant.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.