Putnam Power’s undefeated 10-race winning streak came to an end on Saturday afternoon over an off track rated two seconds slow at Northside Downs as Pictonians Souwest converted from the pocket to prevail
in the opening Atlantic Sires Stakes division for freshmen pacing colts.
In the first of two $9,280 ‘A’ divisions, Pictonians Souwest and trainer-driver Mike Stevenson made the early lead from Post 4 despite suffering interference from breaker Calmlea Justin (Terry Gallant) to his outside.
After the :29.2 opening quarter, Danny Romo sent the popular Putnams Power to the lead and showed the way past panels of 1:00 and 1:31.2.
As the field headed into the stretch, Pictonians Souwest took it to the streaker and wore him down and then scooted away for the 2:00.3 victory. Putnams Power finished three and a quarter lengths behind in second with Tobins Fortune (Henry Smallwood) following for third.
Pictonians Souwest paid $6.30 to win as the 2-1 second choice. The son of Western Paradise-Southview Sasha, who was purchased for $10,000 at the Atlantic Classic sale by Daniel Ross of Belfast, PE, notched his fifth win in eight outings and began his own winning streak. His earnings climbed to $20,534.
The second division went to Tiger Williams, who left from Post 3 and carved out fractions of :30.4 and 1:02.4 before first over challenger Dws Jack (Gallant) edged ahead at three-quarters in 1:33.2. Driven by trainer Earl Smith, the Force Of Life-Susan Shea colt fought off that rival and then the pocket-pulling J G S Sandy (Stevenson) to prevail by a length in 2:02.3. J G S Sandy and Dws Jack were second and third.
The win was Tiger Williams’ fourth in 12 starts and lifted his earnings to $16,916. He was purchased for $12,000 at the Atlantic Classic sale by Prince Edward Island’s Peter Smith, Donald Smith, Gerald Morrissey and Larry Chappell.
Favourite Roses Dream Boy (Fit For Life-Another Rose) and driver Ryan Campbell captured the lone $2,500 ‘B’ division in a career-best 2:02.1 for trainer-owner Ronald Seymour of Glace Bay, NS.
Northside Downs also hosted a pair of Nova Scotia Series Stake splits for three-year-old pacing fillies.
J Gs Frankie was a wire-to-wire winner in the first $5,900 non-wagering division for teamster Mike Stevenson and trainer-owner Angus MacLean. The homebred Western Paradise-J Gs Goldilocks filly stopped the clock in 2:03.3 with pocket-sitter Putnams Dough Girl (Bernard McCallum) finishing one and a quarter lengths behind. First over attacker Emily Putnam (Romo) finished nine lengths back in third while Whispering Benka (Harold Leblanc Jr.) rounded out the field. J Gs Frankie, who went unraced at two, now sports a record of 4-3-3 in 15 starts with $8,522 earned.
Danny Purcell’s popular Bettim Laura and trainer-driver Jeff Lilley captured the second $6,200 wagering event in 2:02.3. The homebred Largo-Bettim Amanda miss went all the way to win for the fifth time in seven starts this year. She has banked $15,576 so far in 2010. All Keyed Up (Stevenson) finished two and three-quarter lengths behind in second with Pictonian Pasha (Greg Sparling) finishing third off a two-hole trip.
Four-year-old Real Artist-Kinki gelding Sir Dutch converted from the pocket to win this week's $1,000 Open Handicapped Pace in 2:00 by three and a quarter lengths over early leader Cruisinart (Myles Heffernan) for trainer, driver and owner Bruce McGean. It was his fifth win in 27 seasonal starts.
To view Saturday's results, click here.