Trainer-driver Marc Campbell enjoyed a stakes double on Sunday (Sept. 1) at Inverness Raceway, capturing the $11,257 Nova Scotia Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies with Arc Light ($3.10) and a $10,260 Atlantic Sires Stakes division with Notorious ($4.50).
Campbell, who led all drivers with five wins on the 11-race card, brushed early with Arc Light in the Nova Scotia (race five) and never looked back en route to a 1:58.2 victory. The daughter of Camystic cleared early pacesetter Fern Hill Delight (David Dowling) past a :29.2 quarter before peeling off in the second circuit.
Arc Light left Fern Hill Delight well in her wake past three-quarters in 1:28.1 and evaded the late rally of Gentle Warrior (Gerard Kennedy) by three lengths. Im A Miracle (Adam Merner) improved belatedly to take third.
Arc Light, now an eight-time winner, campaigns for Grayland Farm.
In the first Atlantic Sires Stakes split (race seven), Campbell and Notorious took advantage of the live cover of Purple Poet (Kenny Arsenault) before narrowly collaring that rival for a 1:59.4 score, the 10th of his career.
The gelded son of Malicious was last away in the field of seven, but latched onto Purple Poet's cover through a :59.4 half. Purple Poet wore down pacesetter R Es Daz (Dowling) through a :30.2 third split and edged away through the final turn, but Notorious had enough left late to reach in the final strides. Mrs Browns Boy (Mary Clare MacDonald) escaped traffic on the final turn to save third.
Notorious races for Darryl and Gordon MacLean and Shirley Symes.
The second Atlantic Sires Stakes division (race nine) saw Red Dirt Boomer ($4.00) sprint clear early and record a pillar-to-post 1:58.1 win over Red Dirt Rocknroll. Trainer Gilles Barrieau drove the son of Malicious, who rated splits of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:29.4 before parrying the challenge of pocket rival Red Dirt Rocknroll (Dowling) by a length. Saulsbrook Lassie (Merner) rallied mildly for third.
Daniel Ross owns Red Dirt Boomer, whose third consecutive stakes win was the 12th victory of his career and sixth this season.
Dream On Dream On ($3.20) likewise ran his winning streak to three, taking the sub-featured $1,150 winners-over pace in 1:57.3. Ryan Campbell again drove for trainer Raymond MacKinnon.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.