Inverness Raceway rolled out the red carpet for some flashy rookies Sunday afternoon, as the freshman pacers battled in a lone division of the Nova Scotia Stake and a trio of Atlantic Sires Stakes affairs.
Elektra Express was a dominant winner against her two-year-old pacing filly foes in the $9,868 Nova Scotia Stake. Trainer/driver Marc Campbell had her on top through panels of :32.1, 1:01.2 and 1:32.1 before kicking home in :29.4 to win by 6-1/4 lengths over Glenview Paisley. Putnams Fire was third.
Danica Ellis of Brookfield, NS bred and owns the daughter of Western Paradise-Expressly Hanover. She’s a perfect 5-for-5 to kick off her career, and along the way she’s managed to bank $18,723.
Earlier on the card, The Hawk captured the first of three $7,640 divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The son of Ameripan Gigolo-Gordyism was second-placed-first after coming up a nose short before the Judges passed on their ruling.
Woodmere Soul and Carters Caper took turns on the lead through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.3 and 1:31.2, with Carters Caper then using a :29.1 closing quarter to prevail by a nose of the hard-driving The Hawk. The Judges ruled, however, that Carters Caper caused interference to Cowboys Dont Cry going to the quarter pole, and as a result the infraction he was placed back to fifth. The Hawk was declared the winner in 2:00.3, with Woodmere Soul and Southsidelightning also working their way into the top three.
Trainer/driver Danny Romo mapped out the winning trip for the gelding who is owned by Thomas Hawco, Jr. of Sydney, NS. The homebred is 3-for-6 to date with earnings of $8,898.
Jigtime Jones survived a first-over trip to win the second division of the ATSS for driver Neldie MacDonald and trainer Clare MacDonald, who celebrated a three-win performance on the matinee program.
Jigtime Jones commenced his first-over charge on the way to the half, and after Tobinator put up the first quarter in :29.2 those two battled through middle splits of :59.2 and 1:29.3. Jigtime Jones edged past the pacesetter in the closing strides to win by a neck in 2:00.4. Tobinator was second, with J J Cassius taking home third prize.
Neldie MacDonald of Antigonish shares ownership on the gelded son of Western Paradise-Gold Luck with Ian Tate of St. Andrews, NS. The win improved the youngster’s record to 2-1-1 from seven starts and the lion’s share of the loot bumped his bankroll to $10,333.
Nameisonthehalter went to the front and didn’t look back in the final contest en route to a 2:00.1 decision for driver Gilles Barrieau. The son of Brandons Cowboy-Keltic Sarah led through intervals of :30.4, 1:01.3 and 1:31.1 before sealing the deal with a :29-second closing quarter. The margin of victory was a length over Complete Player, with Mighty Cowboy another four lengths back in third.
Lawrence Snow of Glace Bay, NS owns and trains the gelding who won for the fifth time in nine tries. His productive campaign includes earnings of $15,476.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Inverness Raceway.