On Saturday (Aug. 6), Northside Downs welcomed horses from the Atlantic Sires Stakes program for the first time in 2022 and the competitors put on a display of record-setting speed.
In the $12,160 Atlantic Sires Stakes division for rookie trotters contested as a non-betting event before the card it was all Irish Ray, winning by more than the length of the stretch in 2:05, a new track record for two-year-old trotting geldings. The son of Muscle Through It - Highly Organized now sports four wins in four appearances for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston, P.E.I.
Mike McGuigan kept Headline Howie together around the final turn after a pocket ride behind Cadillac (Clare MacDonald) to win the first $7,400 AtSS division for three-year-old trotters in a life's best time of 2:00.3. McGuigan trains the sophomore son of Armbro Barrister - Mad Over U Hanover, now a five-time winner as a sophomore, for James Whalen Jr. of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I.
There was a new track record in the second $7,400 AtSS split as the streaking Up Helly Aa picked up his 13th straight win for driver Kenny MacDonald, trainer Clare MacDonald and owner Riley Farms Ltd. of Summerside, P.E.I. The son of Armbro Barrister - Burnt With Finesse was never seriously threatened after making the lead and trotted away from his rivals to a 2:02.1 score than established a new track standard for sophomore trotting colts.
Fern Hill Gusto picked up his fifth win in his last six starts with a wire-to-wire score in the first $10,060 AtSS A Division for three-year-old pacing colts. The son of Stonebridge Terror - Helen O Grace won in 1:56 for trainer / driver Marc Campbell and owner Grayland Farm of Gulf Shore, N.S.
Stash It Away was launched three-wide by Corey MacPherson down the backside in his $10,060 AtSS division, and his :27.4 final quarter was just enough to pick off pacesetter Rollwithhottytoddy (Ryan Campbell) and win by a half-length in 1:56.1. Kevin MacLean trains the son of Pang Shui - Allamerican Napa, now a three-time winner this season, for Reg MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I.
Legendary Ron last raced at Northside in 2020 for owner Douglas Matheson of Cornwall, P.E.I. He won that start for trainer Nick Oakes and driver Redmond Doucet, and he returned a winner for those same connections on Saturday in the $1,600 Winners Over top class by virtue of a season's best 1:55.1 score in wire-to-wire fashion. The seven-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance picked up career win no. 28 with earnings now standing at $124,157.
To view the full results from Saturday's card in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.