T M Top Gun and Putnams Force were the stars of the card at Northside Downs on Saturday afternoon thanks to victories in their respective Nova Scotia Series Stake divisions for two-year-old pacing colts
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In the first of two $6,975 divisions, T M Top Gun and trainer/driver Darren Crowe landed on top at the first quarter before facing a challenge from Box Car Johnnie (Gerald Snow), who recovered from an early break. Those two battled through the remaining splits before T M Top Gun pulled away in the stretch to win by three and three-quarter lengths in 2:05.3 over a track rated good. Box Car Johnnie stayed for second and Accelerated Putnam (Ryan Campbell) was third.
Owned by the Hardy Mill Stable of Beaver Bank and GLB Stable of Lakeview, N.S., the son of Western Paradise won for the second time in four tries.
In the second split, Putnams Force, driven by Ryan Ellis, enjoyed a two-hole trip behind favourite Allbentouttashape (Sean Dooley) before making his move at three-quarters and sprinting home to win in 2:02.3 by two and a half lengths. Allbentouttashape was second and Full Of Finesse (Bernard McCallum) was third.
Ross Toole trains and owns the Force Of Life colt, who earned his third straight win in seven outings.
In the $900 Winners Over Pace, Woodmere Westerner sprinted home off a pocket trip to prevail in 2:00.1 by a head over pacesetter and favourite P H Mike (Mike Heffernan). Windy Bay J J (John Ellsworth) finished third.
Greg Bailey did the driving for local trainer Mary Lynn Collins, who co-owns with Howard Collins. Woodmere Westerner, a five-year-old Western Success gelding, won for the fifth time this year in 12 starts. His 13th lifetime score lifted his earnings to $17,365.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.