It was a close race right down to the wire, but Dixieland Band came out the victor in his $10,100 Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Inverness Raceway on Sunday afternoon.
Dixieland Band (Ameripan Gigolo-Divine Justice), with catch-driver Mark MacKinnon in the bike, crossed the finish line 2:00.1 for trainer Kevin MacLean and owners Reg MacPherson and David MacKenzie of Stratford, P.E.I. and Aaron MacKenzie of Winsloe, P.E.I. Coming home a close second was Proven Desire and driver Marc Campbell and with George and driver Clare MacDonald finishing back in third.
The other $10,100 'A' division on the afternoon race card went to J J Romeo (Proven Lover-Romantic Terror) and trainer/driver Mike Stevenson. The duo crossed the finish line in 2:00 with a four length win margin for owner Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I. Second-place went to R ES Aiden and driver Rodney Gillis while Everclear and Campbell finished third.
Stevenson recorded an Atlantic Sires Stakes driving and training double, taking the lone $2,500 'B' division event with first-time starter R Es Reese (Driven To Win-Sobrina De Arturo) in 2:03.
Points earned in each Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' division go towards securing a coveted spot in the season-ending Atlantic Breeders Crown Championship. This year's championship weekend will be hosted by Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park on October 11 and 12.
Surrealist closed out Sunday's card winning the $2,500 second leg of the Inverness Invitational in 1:57.3 by three-quarters of a length over Bonnys Mac and Clare MacDonald. Randy Getto drove the eight-year-old gelding for trainer Luke MacDonald and owner Dana Getto of New Waterford, N.S. King Of Rock and Alex MacQuarrie finished third.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.
(With files from Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association)