CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Southfield Skye may only have two starts under her belt, but driver Adam Merner says they were both special ones.
The Stonebridge Terror filly makes her Atlantic Sires Stakes debut tonight at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park as part of Gold Cup and Saucer week racing. The 12-dash program has a 7 p.m. first race start time with Southfield Skye taking to the track in the final $9,540 Atlantic Sires Stakes A division competition in Race 10.
The other A splits are in Races 6 and 8.
Merner says the second he sat behind the filly to qualify her he knew she had extreme talent.
“She is a pretty special filly,” Merner said. “She’s good gaited and can go fast. She has the size to carry herself. I like her.”
Glen MacKay handles the training duties of the filly at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway for owner Southfield Farms Inc., of Summerside. Her career debut was in an overnight event on Aug. 2 in Summerside where she disposed of her competition with an open-length margin at every station to win by nine lengths in 1:58.
The Callbeck stake was next on the agenda, Aug. 9 at the Prince County oval, and it was another romp, this time in 1:56.3 with an eight-length margin of victory.
“I asked her up the backside and she was all pace,” the driver said. “She is in great shape, drives straight. She is impressive.”
Her Thursday assignment has her leaving from Post 4 in a field of seven pacing fillies. The far outside belongs to Vicky Everyday (Corey MacPherson), who was second to Southfield Skye last week.
“She is a big filly so the middle of the gate will be a good place to be,” Merner said of his charge. “The turn doesn’t come up too quick. She can be a little headstrong. We’re just going to set sail to the lead and hopefully open up late.”
Nicholas Oakes is covering harness racing at Gold Cup and Saucer Week for The Guardian. This is his 11th year covering the big week for the news outlet.
