Trainer-driver Mary Clare MacDonald swept the pair of Nova Scotia Stakes contested at Truro Raceway on Friday (Sept. 18)—one in a non-pari-mutuel event and the other on the evening’s betting card.
Mr Finlay Ridge strolled to a four-and-three-quarter length victory in the $4,670 Nova Scotia Stake Two-Year-Old Trot. The Armbro Barrister gelding led under minimal pressure through fractions of :31, 1:02.2 and 1:33.2 in progress to a 2:03.1 victory for owners Mary Clare MacDonald, Arnold Rankin and Ian Tate.
Mabou Ridge later in the night delivered as the 1-5 favourite in the $4,205 Nova Scotia Stake Three-Year-Old Trot. Away second from post 2, Mabou Ridge stalked tempo-setter Tequila Tuesday through fractions of :30.1 and 1:02.2 before MacDonald mounted her attack. Up the backstretch Mabou Ridge rolled uncovered towards the lead and cleared command past three-quarters in 1:33.1 to then extend his lead to the finish of a 2:01.3 mile, besting Tequila Tuesday by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Terrible Ted finished seven lengths farther back in third.
A gelding by Armbro Barrister, Mabou Ridge won his fifth race from seven starts this season and his 12th from 17 overall, earning $72,472. The Arnold Rankin homebred paid $2.30 to win.
Distinctiv Rusty repeated in the winners-over class, this time pulling a 20-1 upset in 1:58.2. The George Rennison trainee grabbed the lead to a :29.4 opening quarter and held firm on the point as Toxicity challenge first over through middle fractions of 1:00.2 and 1:29.1. Into the stretch Toxicity stalled as Lady N Paradise dashed from the pocket and Well Did rallied from off cover late, but Distinctiv Rusty kept a neck in front to win in rein to Ryder Matthews Rennison.
Returning $40.10 to win, Distinctiv Rusty collected his sixth win from 16 starts this season and his 40th from 202 overall, earning $86,300. The nine-year-old Rambaran stallion competes for owners Andrea Rennison and Ryder Matthews Rennison.
To view Friday's special-card harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway (S).
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.