Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings grabbed the spotlight at Exhibition Park Raceway on Sunday, as the half-mile oval hosted three divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes
. A pair of $9,820 “A” splits plus a single $2,500 “B” division went postward as part of the 12-race program.
T M Top Gun earned a career-best clocking of 1:57.2 in his “A” division assignment for trainer/driver Darren Crowe. The son of Western Paradise-Direct Memory sat a pocket trip behind Island Redemption, who threw down fractions of :29, :58.3 and 1:27.4 before getting picked off in the final strides. T M Top Gun defeated Island Redemption by three-quarters of a length, with Benny Rabbit a well-beaten third.
David MacDonald of Halifax, NS holds the ownership papers on the gelding, who now owns a 2-6-2 record in his first 14 starts of the season. The pacer has banked more than $38,000 in his career.
Mr Salming extended his winning streak to four-in-a-row thanks to his 1:58.2 triumph for trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau in the other “A” division. Despite a rugged first-over trip, the son of Coastocoast Yankee-First To Fly kicked home in :29.1 to win narrowly over the 1-9 favourite Allbentouttashape. Unstoppable Speed was a distant third.
Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast, PEI share ownership on the colt, who is 5-for-12 this season after going 5-for-10 in his rookie year. The lion’s share of the purse lifted his lifetime cash stash in excess of $62,000.
Moneyhaha was sent off as the 1-9 favourite in the lone “B” division, and the son of Largo-Pinchot didn’t disappoint for trainer/driver Marc Campbell. The pacer led the field through panels of :30.1, 1:01.2 and 1:32.1 before sealing the deal in a time of 2:01.1. Found Wanting was next best, and Dylanslicketysplit was third.
Campbell shares ownership on the gelding with James Whelan, Jr. of Veron River and Trevor MacDonald of Vernon Bridge, PEI. After going 0-for-11 as a freshman, the pacer has bounced back with a 4-for-14 record this season. He’s pocketed more than $14,000 to date.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.