Scamp Finesse kicked off Sunday's Atlantic Sires Stakes action for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Inverness Raceway with a divisional track record performance.
In the first $7,320 Sires Stakes division, favourite Accelerated Pace and Mike Stevenson set the tempo with fractions of :30.4, 1:01.2 and 1:31, but the pocket-pulling Scamp Finesse ($5.20) unleashed a :28.1 final kicker to steal the glory. The Western Paradise-Happys Imp gelding prevailed by two and a quarter lengths in 1:59.2 over the pacesetter while River Paradise, driven by Marc Campbell, finished over six lengths behind in third.
Scamp Finesse's winning time lowered the track standard for frosh colts and geldings by one-fifth of a second. Woodmere Winstar and Putnams Power shared the old mark.
Trainer-driver Clare MacDonald shares ownership of the new track record holder with Morah Kerr of Greenfield, N.S. and Phonsie MacEachern of Port Hood, N.S. The victory was the gelding's second in seven starts.
Paraprosdokian ($9.40) later circled a field of seven to win the second division in 2:00.4 for Campbell. Longshot Saulsbrook Astrobo and MacDonald finished two and three-quarter lenghs behind in second and favourite Woodmere Comical and Stevenson, who led through fractions of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30.2, faded to third.
The Western Paradise-Armbro Boudoir gelding, also two-for-seven in his career, is owned by Buntainwood Farm of Brackley Beach, P.E.I.
Driver Redmond Doucet completed a five-win day with an ATSS score aboard T M Valley Storm ($6) in the third and final division. The Western Paradise-Direct Memory colt took the lead from post four and cruised through panels of :29.1, :59.1 and 1:29.3 en route to a 1:59.4 triumph. T M Valley Storm held off favourite The Rev and Danny Romo by three-quarters of a length. Forever Paradise and Campbell finished third.
Jamie Smith trains the first-time winner for Harry Simmonds, Hal Bevan, and Graham Robinson of Charlottetown, and Glen Murray of Stratford, P.E.I.
Mr Monday and MacDonald won the lone $2,500 'B' division by 10-1/2 lengths in 2:04.3. The Coastocoast Yankee-Windsun Athena gelding is owned and bred by Riley Farms Ltd. and Earith Riley of Kensington, P.E.I.
Sunday's card wrapped up with the $2,500 Central Home Improvement Invitational Pace and Silver Dragon ($10.20) slayed his six foes with a six length romp in 1:57.1 for trainer, driver and owner L. David Ratchford of North Sydney, N.S. Truth Or Dare, driven by Ryan Campbell, and Art I Special, with Doucet aboard, finished second and third.
Doucet's other wins on the day were courtesy of Lloyd MacLean trainee Moe Onthe Go ($4.10), the Colin Basker-conditioned All Systems Go ($4.80), his own pupil Unfluffnbelievable ($3.90), and Bruce Almighty ($3.40), trained by Alex Sutherland Jr.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.