Atlantic Sires Stakes two and three-year-old trotters provided exciting harness racing action at Inverness Raceway on Wednesday evening, including a track record performance.
B J Comanche and driver Clare MacDonald equalled the track record for three-year-old trotting colts with a 2:04.2 triumph in an $8,140 division. Trained and owned by Bert Honkoop of Montague, P.E.I., the homebred Bo W-High And Flighty colt also holds the freshman trotting colt record of 2:06.4, which he set in his only other Inverness start in a Sires Stakes division last September.
Topway first set the three-year-old trotting colt record last year while the overall male sophomore trotting record stands at 2:02, set by gelding Super S Crosby in 2008.
Trotting gelding Dusty Lane Galaxy won the other division in 2:03.4 with driver/trainer Gary Chappell in the bike. The son of Pjs Nabby out of Starinthesky is owned by Peter Buchanan of North Wiltshire, P.E.I. and the Estate of George L. Boswall of Frenchfort, P.E.I.
The two-year-old trotters also had a chance to shine as filly Tyne Valley (Northern Bailey-Tymal Maroma) and driver Mike Stevenson earned first-place honours in their $8,280 event in 2:11.1 for trainer Bill Roloson, who co-owns with Scott Roloson of Belfast, P.E.I. and Kristi Pickering of Charlottetown.
The second two-year-old trotting event went to the undefeated filly Paymenowpaymelater (Northern Bailey-Credibility) and driver Kenny Arsenault in 2:06.4 for trainer Earls Watts and owner Wade Peconi of Stanchel, P.E.I.
The Atlantic Sires Stakes trotting events across the Maritimes are presented by Meridian Farms.
Not to be out done by the trotters, the two-year-old pacing fillies also strutted their stuff at the Inverness oval.
Trained and driven by MacDonald, Woodmere Dancenart (Articulator-Shadow Dancer) won her $9,700 'A' division in 2:01.2 for owners Morah Kerr of Greenfield, N.S. and Phonsie MacEachern of Port Hood, N.S.
The other 'A' division on the race card went to the Stephen Mason-trained Jann Down (Articulator-Khadiva Hanover) and driver Gilles Barrieau in 2:01.4 for the Downey Stables of Quispamsis, N.B.
I Can Do Anything (Ameripan Gigolo-Crossridge Income) crossed the finish line first in the lone $2,500 'B' division with owner, driver and trainer Keith Ford in the bike. Gordon Neill of Charlottetown also shares the ownership papers on the homebred filly, who stopped the clock in 2:04.4 for the maiden-breaking score.
Atlantic Sires Stakes racing action heats up again this weekend as a full slate of events will take place during Old Home Week at Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Inverness Raceway.
(With files from ASBA)