A new track record for freshman pacing colts and geldings was set on Sunday afternoon when Jackson K Down clocked an impressive 1:59 victory in Atlantic Sires Stakes racing action at Inverness Raceway.
The current Atlantic Sires Stakes point leader was under the command of Gilles Barrieau as he captured the winner's share of the $7,440 purse and remained undefeated in four career starts for trainer Stephen Mason and the Downey Stables of Quispamsis, N.B. Jackson K Down (Camystic-Village Jericho) was a wire-to-wire winner, scoring by three and a quarter lengths over Red Dirt Racer, with Offshore Cowboy third.
Brandons Glory and driver Dale Spence won their 'A' division by a nose over race leader Magical Cowboy in 2:01.4. Spence and Cindy Gunn of Saint John, N.B. share ownership of the maiden-breaking son of Brandons Cowboy-CR Blaze Of Glory while Tommy Gunn handles the training.
Heart And Soul took first-place honours in his event 'A' division with driver/trainer Clare MacDonald in the bike. The Western Paradise-Mighty Sassy gelding went wire-to-wire in 1:59.4 for the five-length victory over Beaus Cowboy for owners Earith and George Riley of Kensington, P.E.I. The career-best win was his second in the Atlantic Sires Stakes.
MacDonald had a driving double on the afternoon race card, winning a $9,760 'A' division for pacing fillies with her homebred West River Ambyr in 2:00.3 while divisional point leader Scarlet Safari finished second. The Antigonish, N.S. horsewoman shares ownership of West River Ambyr (Brandons Cowboy-West River Rosie) with her daughter Haley MacDonald. The win was the filly's second in a row and fastest yet.
The other 'A' division for pacing fillies went to Brookdale Liz and trainer/driver Bernard McCallum. The duo crossed the finish line in 2:03.4, edging past Scarlet Saphire by a quarter-length, for owners Doug R. Polley and Doug E. Polley of Amherst, N.S. The homebred Western Paradise-Half Luck filly notched her first career win.
In the $2,500 "B" divisions, the Wade Sorrie-trained filly Camco Usheema (Chasin Racin-Armbro Dandelion) made her career debut a winning one in 2:06.3 in rein to Mike Stevenson while pacing colt Accelerator (Driven To Win-KG Affair) scored a neck victory to break his maiden in 2:03.2 for trainer/driver Greg Sparling.
In regular racing action, Roderick Smith's 10-year-old pacer Macnamarra cruised to a 1:58.1 triumph in this week's $1,200 Winners Over class with John MacDougall driving.
Atlantic Sires Stakes racing action now takes a brief reprieve, but will come back full force with a full slate of events slated for Old Home Week at Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park. The Atlantic Sires Stakes events begin on August 15 with the three-year-old pacing fillies and events will continue throughout the week of harness racing.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.
(With files from Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association)