Majian Tango destroyed the track record for two-year-old trotters with an impressive victory in the Atlantic Sires Stakes on Sunday (August 7) at Inverness Raceway.
Majian Tango and driver/trainer James Ripley won their $8,660 two-year-old trot division for owner/breeder Marylea Ripley of Amherst, N.S. The Tad The Stud gelding's 2:04.1 maiden-breaking victory lowered the divisional track record that was set last September by High Bid by one full second. Majian Tango followed in fifth before rallying home in :29.4 to defeat the pocket-pulling Wicked Nick by a neck for the 14-1 upset, with Play Along, who had led through fractions of :31.1, 1:01.2 and 1:33.2, finishing one length behind in third.
The driver/trainer duo of Brian MacPhee and Bert Honkoop had some luck at Inverness on Sunday, with the pair capturing two Atlantic Sires Stakes - Meridian Farms sponsored events on the afternoon race card. B J Classic won his $8,220 three-year-old trot event with MacPhee handling the driving duties for Montague, P.E.I. owner/trainer Honkoop. The homebred Meadowagogo gelding held off Howmac Gypsy by half a length to earn his first career win in 2:06.
Meanwhile, BJ Lorado took the MacPhee-Honkoop pair to the winner's circle again with a win in his two-year-old trot event. The homebred gelding by Bo W just held off Mary Leah by a nose in 2:06.3 for his second ATSS victory of the year.
Mr Bower and driver/trainer Kenny Arsenault converted off a pocket trip and crossed the finish line first in 2:02.2 over Glencove Zani in the other three-year-old trot event for owner Wade Peconi of Stanchel, P.E.I. The gelded son of Meadowagogo remains perfect through the first three legs of the ATSS and extended his current win streak to four.
The Atlantic Sires Stakes two-year-old pacing fillies also had their turn to shine at Inverness on Sunday with two $9,600 events on the race card. Trainer/driver Marc Campbell swept those splits, first winning with Filly Forty Seven. The daughter of Proven Lover fought off Tobins Secret en route to a two-length victory in 2:00.1 for co-owner Tanya Tremblett of Sydney Mines, N.S. and her P.E.I. partners Darryl MacLean, Katelyn Smallwood and Cory Carver. The time of the mile was a new personal-best for the two-time ATSS winner.
Campbell paid another visit to the winner's circle with the undefeated Elektra Express. The win was the third straight in the Atlantic Sires Stakes and fourth overall for the Western Paradise filly owned and bred by Danica Ellis of Brookfield, N.S. Elektra Express equalled her mark of 1:59.3 with a five-length romp. She is now the leading point-earner in the two-year-old filly division.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.
(With files from Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association)