Formal Affair obliterated the all-age Inverness Raceway track record in this year's edition of the $7,500 Inverness Invitational Pace on Sunday afternoon
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Trained and driven by Garry MacDonald, five-year-old gelding Formal Affair gunned to the lead from Post 1 and carved out fractions of :27.4, :55.4 and 1:24.4 en route to a seven-length victory in 1:54.1. The former track record of 1:55.3 was set by Cam Spade in 2008.
Silver Dragon (David Ratchford) and Bryson Seelster (Ryan Campbell) rounded out the top three.
Formal Affair paid $2.90 to win for the fourth consecutive time. The son of Real Desire-Little Black Dress, a winner of eight races in 23 starts this year and $47,875, is owned by Ronnie and Dale Rennie of Elmsdale, PE. Lifetime, Formal Affair has won 12 times while banking $87,620.
Also featured on Saturday’s card was the $11,500 Nova Scotia Series Stake for two-year-old pacing fillies, which went to Diamond Coast ($7.00) and trainer-driver Darren Crowe. The Coastocoast Yankee-Dotted Diamonds filly recovered from a minor miscue past three-quarters while sitting in the pocket and out-paced leader Force Of Fire (David Jackson) to prevail by three and a half lengths in 2:00.4. Forceful Putnam (Bernard McCallum) finished 10 lengths back in third.
Dan Belliveau of Halifax, NS purchased the winner of three races in 10 starts and $8,764 as a yearling for a price tag of $10,400 in the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Sale.
To view Sunday's results, click here.
Congratulations to Gary
Congratulations to Gary MacDonald. From the days of driving Daylon Smartie and Chief Mir right up until now, you have always been an excellent horseman. You now hold three all age track records in the Maritimes, that's quite a statement.