CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — If there was any doubt the greatest crop of three-year-old Atlantic trotters were racing this season, Ya Boy Bear erased it Tuesday evening at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia.
In line to trainer Marc Campbell, Ya Boy Bear recorded the fastest trot mile ever in the history of the Atlantic Sires Stakes program, as the son of Delcrest Julian won in 1:59 flat in his $6,240 three-year-old division. A homebred of Michael Bailey of Morell, Ya Boy Bear can call himself the third fastest sophomore trotter ever on the East Coast.
Gettin Messi (Mike McGuigan), the overall three-year-old record holder, finished second Tuesday. His 1:58.3 record mile came in an overnight event in Charlottetown in June, while Waiting On A Woman trotted the second fastest mile in 1:58.4 in a division of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes in September 2011.
Also on Tuesday’s card in Truro, Thelastonestanding, a full-brother to Waiting On A Woman, was a winner in another division in 1:59.2 for driver Brian MacPhee and trainer Ambyr Campbell of Charlottetown.
Richsnortherndream captured the other $6,240 split in 2:00 for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault and owners Wade Peconi of Stanchel and New Brunswick conglomerate One Black Horse Stable.
The two-year-old trotters again had just one division in Atlantic Sires Stakes action for a healthy purse of $15,720 with Mabou Ridge remaining undefeated in two tries for trainer-driver Clare MacDonald. Island horses Tequila Tuesday (Myles Heffernan Sr.) and Go With Her (Kuri White) were second and third, respectively.
The two-year-old pacing fillies had a pair of $10,340 A divisions on the card and Woodmere Nasha was a 1:59.4 victory for driver Arsenault, trainer Jamie Smith and owners Five Guys Horses N Lies of Charlottetown.
The other split was won by Saulsbrook Ocean (Dale Spence) in 1:59.3.
Grand Circuit Week racing continues into the weekend at the Bible Hill oval outside of Truro with the two-year-old pacing colts featured on the Friday evening program starting at 7 p.m.
Saturday has the three-year-old colts in the Atlantic Sires Stakes as well as the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series. The feature of the 10-dash 7 p.m. program is the $7,500 Lindsay Construction Invitational with Governor’s Plate champion Rose Run Quest back in action from Post 4 for trainer-driver Campbell.
The field also includes Do Over Hanover (Jason Hughes), Down On My Luck (Steven Shepherd), Half Cut (Mark Bradley), Doctor Royal (Ryan Ellis), Intended Royalty (Redmond Doucet) and Atlantis (Marc Whebby).
Sunday afternoon will feature the Frank and Beth Stanfield memorial stake for three-year-old pacing fillies with a 1 p.m. post time on that program.
All the Truro Raceway action will be carried online and via simulcast at both Red Shores locations.
P.E.I. Scene
Live racing continues on P.E.I. with an 11-dash card set for Saturday evening at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park at 6 p.m., and 12 dashes Sunday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway starting at 1 p.m.
Nick’s Picks
Saturday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park:
Race 1 – Knockout Punch
Race 2 – Painted Desert
Race 3 – Foxwood Billy
Race 4 – ER Quinn
Race 5 – Starcastic
Race 6 – Forever Paradise
Race 7 – Hysteria
Race 8 – Screen Test
Race 9 – Rash B Havior
Race 10 – Sock It Away
Race 11 – JK Express
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
