Five Atlantic Sires Stakes splits for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings headlined the Wednesday card at Summerside Raceway while aged trotter Dunmore TKO set a new track record.
The freshmen were divided into two classes – three $8,960 "A" divisions and two $2,500 "B" divisions.
Ultimate Blessing turned in the ultimate performance to take the quickest of the three "A" tilts. The N Xample – Valerie Road colt withstood a :28.3 park job to the quarter in order to make front and once he was there, he breezed through panels of :57.2 and 1:27.3. Ultimate Blessing opened up in the stretch to prevail by four lengths in 1:58.3.
Urge To Win (Shane Bernard) was second best while third went to Island Historic (Dan Romo).
Wayne Hubbard conditions Ultimate Blessing for Ultimate Stable and Dawn Hubbard. An $8,000 yearling purchase, he is 1-1-0 in two lifetime starts with earnings of $4,232.
Deep Finesse went a long first-over journey to take the second split for trainer/driver Phil Pinkney. The Western Paradise – Deep River Woman colt began his trek from third on the way to the half and collared leader, Calmlee Jason (Darren Crowe), at the wire by a head in 1:59.4. Rocky Bubba (Marc Campbell) was third.
Pinkney also owns Deep Finesse, who is 2-1-0 in five starts as a freshman, banking $7,072.
Porthill Gatsby swept the field in the final division for driver Dan Romo. The Quick Comeback – Windhaven Mattie colt was last at the quarter, but advanced in the outside flow from third-over to nail the leaders by a length in 2:01. Woodmere Finaldrop (Gary Chappel) was the runner-up and Island Flyer (Ken Murphy) finished third.
Alex Baird does the training on Porthill Gatsby and co-owns the colt with partners Sonya Baird and Clifford Garland. The $5,000 yearling purchase has a win and second in two lifetime starts with $6,552 in purses.
The two "B" contests were won by Millar Millar and Gunning For You.
Millar Millar made a backside brush to the front on the way to the three-quarters and the N Xample – Technigality colt never looked back, winning by six and three-quarter lengths for driver Gary Chappell in 2:03.3. John Perry trains and owns the $2,600 yearling purchase, who is 1-1-0 in three starts with earnings of $1,375.
Gunning For You turned back all challengers in the second division for driver Brian MacPhee and owner/trainer Terrance Affleck. The N Xample – Lavender Road colt, who was a $3,300 yearling purchase, cut all the fractions before stopping the timer in 2:02.4, winning by a head. Gunning For You is now one-for-two, banking $1,175.
In the $1,400 Open Handicap Trot, Dunmore TKO made every call a winning one. The four-year-old Black River gelding set the tempo in :29.4, 1:01.3 and 1:31.2 en route to the two and a half-length triumph in 2:00.3. Hopedale Last Bill (Joey Pineau) was second while Players Champion (Brian Andrew) completed the top three.
The 2:00.3 clocking shaved one fifth of a second off the previous mark, which was held by Maple Leaf Hawk.
Dunmore TKO is owned and conditioned by Edward Smallwood. In 11 seasonal starts, he is 4-2-4 with a bankroll of $4,105.
To view Summerside's results, click here.