Driver Adam Merner swept the fourth leg of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings with Here On Earth and Like A King posting decisive wins over the favourites in their respective 'A' divisions on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 1 at Inverness Raceway.
Here On Earth (pictured above) led wire-to-wire ahead of divisional point leader Sergeant Crowley for his first Atlantic Sires Stakes victory in the opening $12,140 'A' event.
With the inside post advantage, 7-5 second choice Here On Earth and Merner established the lead into the first turn with even-money Sergeant Crowley (Jason Hughes) firing across the track into the pocket from the outside post in the field scratched down to five. Here On Earth led unopposed through first-half fractions of :29.3 and :59.1 before opening up on top to three-quarters in 1:29.1 with Sergeant Crowley chasing the rest of the way. Here On Earth lowered his lifetime mark to 1:59 flat, winning 4-1/2 lengths. Rollinread (Clare MacDonald) rounded out the top three order of finish more than 16 lengths behind.
Trained by Melissa Rennie, Here On Earth scored his second career victory. He's finished no worse than fourth through six starts for earnings of $20,130.
Bred by Clark Bustard of Elmwood, N.B., the Bet The Moon-Well Shaded colt was a $9,500 yearling purchase from last year's Atlantic Classic Sale by owners Jared Perrot of Stratford, P.E.I., and Cory Livingston of Village Green, P.E.I.
Here On Earth returned $4.90 to win.
Merner picked up the catch-drive on the Donald Milligan-trained Like A King and pulled off a 12-1 upset over favourite Prince Malicious to complete his sweep of the 'A' divisions.
Like A King, the longest shot on the board, sat a pocket trip through a :29.2 opening quarter and :59.1 half while 1-5 favourite Prince Malicious (Jason Hughes) recovered from a break at the gate and tracked down the pacesetting All My Lovin (David Dowling). As Prince Malicious was working to clear All My Lovin past three-quarters in 1:30.2, Like A King swept by and took off down the lane to win by 4-3/4 lengths in 2:00.1. Prince Malicious held on for second over All My Lovin.
Stepping up from a successful Sires Stakes debut at the 'B' level and coming off a runner-up finish in the Aug. 14 leg at Charlottetown Driving Park, Like A King earned his first 'A' victory, sparking a $27 win payout for his backers.
The Arthur Blue Chip-Twin B Cuzisaidso colt now has three wins, a second and fourth through his first five starts with earnings climbing to $21,965 for owner/breeder Jennifer Ritchie of Kingston, N.B.
A pair of $6,000 'B' divisions went to two-time winning sons of Bet The Moon: Father Hughie D ($6.50), in 2:01.2 with Clare MacDonald driving for trainer Gardner McCallum, and Starship SLX ($5.30), in 2:02.1 with David Dowling aboard for the Earl Watts stable.
The final preliminary leg of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings is scheduled for Sept. 22 at Summerside Raceway, with all divisional championships of the Atlantic Breeders Crown to be contested on Oct. 13.
The Inverness top class closed out Sunday's racing action with 7-5 favourite Woodmere Ideal Art hot on the heels of 2-1 pacesetter Sunshine Lou as they turned for home and pouncing from the pocket to win the $2,000 Winners Over in 1:57.4 by 1-1/4 lengths. Jason Hughes drove the nine-year-old Articulator gelding, who recorded his first local tally after making his only other Inverness start as a sophomore back in 2018 in Sires Stakes action (finishing second). The career winner of 42 races is trained by Sifroi Melanson and owned by Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, N.B.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)