Tobins Chester nosed out rival Jackies Boy in their Carl & Marg MacKenzie Memorial Stakes showdown on Friday, Sept. 6 as racing resumed at Truro Raceway following a three-week hiatus.
Trained by Ashley Gamester, Tobins Chester won the fastest of five $9,725 stakes divisions for three-year-old pacers, prevailing in 1:54.4 with Jason Hughes in the bike.
Tobins Chester, whose win streak in summer stakes action was cut off at seven when Jackies Boy swept the Barrieau-McIsaac Stakes elimination and final last late month in New Brunswick, got the jump on that rival as he hung him out three-wide with an early move around inside leaver Allaboutcash (Marc Campbell). Tobins Chester cleared to command at the :27.1 quarter mark and stole a second-quarter breather to the half in :57.3. Jackies Boy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) had settled in third but went head-to-head with Tobins Chester down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:26.1. They continued to battle on top turning for home with 1-4 favourite Tobins Chester holding off a relentless Jackies Boy in the win photo. Allaboutcash finished less than a length back in the passing lane.
Tobins Chester rebounded for his eighth win of the season in 11 starts. The Shanghai Phil-Putnam MacKenzie gelding now sports a career record reading 15-3-1 from 21 starts with earnings totalling $131,903 for owner Donald MacRae.
In the other colt division, Merigo Magic was a gate-to-wire winner in 1:55.2 for driver Adam Merner and trainer Melissa Rennie. Pauls Crown (Marc Campbell) was his closest pursuer two lengths behind while Roll Your Coin (Corey MacPherson) got the nod in a show photo nearly nine lengths back. The Tobago Cays-Meridian Magic gelding earned his first win since seeing his own win streak of seven in a row ended by Tobins Chester in July. Merigo Magic is owned by Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron and Ian Walker.
Woodmere Delta and catch-driver David Dowling wore down early speedster Chip Of Evil (Corey MacPherson) for a mild 6-1 upset in the fastest filly division, stopping the clock in a new lifetime mark of 1:55 flat. The Jeff Holmes trainee defeated the popular pacesetter by 1-1/4 lengths, with Saulsbrook Feisty (Paul Langille) following in third. The daughter of Rollwithitharry and Very Ideal Hanover is owned by Robert Sumarah, Frank Brundle and Brad Sumarah.
Driven by Corey MacPherson for trainer Joseph Baxter, Miss Wicked rebuffed a third-quarter challenge from eventual show finisher Starship Beauty (David Dowling) to win her division in 1:56.4, with pocket-sitter First Filly Chip (Paul Langille) following 1-1/2 lengths behind in second. The homebred filly by McWicked out of Deviliciously Good is owned by Blaine Thibeau.
The final division was won by Zendayas Firstlady, who romped to a seven-length victory in a career-best 1:55.4 clocking with Myles Heffernan Sr. along for the ride while Goodmorning Nova (Jason Hughes) and Last Chance (Marc Campbell) rounded out the top three. Stephen Quinn trains the Arthur Blue Chip-Sunset City filly for owner John Quinn.
Heffernan closed out the card with a natural hat trick, capped off by Rollwithhottytoddy's 7-3/4-length showing in the $2,500 Winners Over Pace. The Trevor Hicken trainee could not be caught as he took off in the stretch for the 1:53.1 triumph. Brumby (Darren Crowe) and Time To Dance (Marc Campbell) finished second and third, respectively.
With a training triple on the 14-race card, veteran horseman George Rennison took over the top spot in the meet standings. His win count climbed to 15 with Darrell (Corey MacPherson), Top Of Her Trade (Marc Campbell) and Privilege (Myles Heffernan Sr.) victorious in their respective assignments.
Meanwhile, Justin Hardie celebrated his first career training win with three-year-old pacer All Bettor winning the opener in 1:59.3 after recovering from a break at the start in rein to Adam Merner. The 22-year-old trainer from Middle Sackville, N.S., who had posted five prior top three finishes with the Bettors Delight gelding, earned his first win in his 11th start. It was also a maiden-breaking win for All Bettor, who is owned by Ken and Glenn Hardie.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)