Majian Dillon broke his maiden in the lone $12,800 Atlantic Sires Stakes division for freshman trotters and established a new track record in the process on Wednesday at
Inverness Raceway while Maple Leaf Spirit prevailed amongst a field of breakers, including her main rival Waiting On A Woman, in the matching sophomore division.
In the two-year-old division, favourite My Daisy Duke (Ronnie Gass) took the lead from Post 1 with Majian Dillon gapped back in second after B J Carmalyta made a miscue causing interference to breaker Lil Miss Abbie (Mike Stevenson) and Sweetwater Rukkus (Ralph Annear). Majian Dillion narrowed his early seven length deficit through fractions of :30.4, 1:00.1 and 1:33.2 and soared past the pacesetter in the stretch for the 2:06.1 victory. Sweetwater Rukkus came on for second, finishing three-quarters of a length behind. My Daisy Duke finished three lengths back in third.
The time of the mile established a new track record for two-year-old male trotters, lowering Buddywhatshisname's mark by one-fifth of a second.
Majian Dillon paid $24.10 for the 11-1 upset. The son of Nikes Image-Askmetodance is owned and bred by Marylea Ripley of Amherst, N.S. while James Ripley trains and drives. The chestnut gelding has picked up cheques in his three prior starts, all in Atlantic Sires Stakes action, and now has $8,942 in lifetime earnings.
Leaving from Post 4 in the sophomore division with trainer-driver Ralph Annear, favourite Maple Leaf Spirit took control of the field while four of the six starters rolled offstride. The daughter of Meadowagogo-Maple Leaf Legacy showed the way past panels of :30.4, 1:01.1 and 1:32.2 en route to a 2:02.1 victory. West River Victory (Clare MacDonald) followed one and a half lengths behind for second. Finishing over 20 lengths back in third was B J High Meadow (Bert Honkoop).
Maple Leaf Spirit paid $2.90 to win. Annear co-owns Maple Leaf Spirit with Steven Sorrie of Montague, P.E.I. Fresh off her only defeat this season in the Lady Slipper Stakes on August 24 at Summerside, where she finished second to Waiting On A Woman, Maple Leaf Spirit rebounded for her sixth win. The lion’s share of the purse pushed her earnings to $21,404. She now boasts a lifetime record of 14-7-0 in 21 starts with $58,096 banked.
For results from Wednesday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Inverness Raceway.