CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – It had to be done the hard way, but Tobins Terror found herself on top in the biggest Atlantic Sires Stakes jackpot so far this season for her Island connections at Northside Downs in Nova Scotia.
The Saturday afternoon showdown had eight top three-year-old pacing fillies competing for a $17,940 purse at the North Sydney, N.S., oval. Trainer-driver Gary Chappell sent Tobins Terror off the gate from Post 3 in the event and found herself in a tough spot as she was parked the duration of the mile by the front-stepping Chocolate Terror (Darren Crowe). The fractions were laid in 28, 57.1 and 1:27.2 before Tobins Terror cleared her competition to win by one-and-a-half lengths in 1:58.
Island-owned Elm Grove Mistress (Marc Campbell) was second while Woodmere Ceilidh (Clare MacDonald) was third. Tobins Terror is owned by Boyd MacDonald Produce Ltd., of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast.
The stakes trail continues for Tobins Terror this weekend as she is favoured in the Maritimer stake at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B., on Saturday. Chappell is back in the bike from Post 5 as the race has only attracted five entrants this year. Usually the Maritimer stake is contested in a heat format with eliminations early on the program then the top four from each split advancing to the final later in the day. With no eliminations necessary the entire pool has been combined for one dash going for $17,780. Also, in the field is Moramappo (Stephen Mason), Woodmere Wyldstyle (Todd Trites), Elm Grove Maddy (Dale Spence) and Elm Grove Mistress (Campbell).
Also, on the Exhibition Park program, Ramblinglily has rail control in the $5,000 Jim Doherty pace with Trites in the bike against a field of four mainland pacing males.
P.E.I. Scene
The Joe O’Brien and Lady Slipper stakes were held Sunday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway and a pair of rookies still remains undefeated after six starts. Magical Mistress won her $19,000 Lady Slipper gold division in a new mark of 1:56.1 to remain perfect in her career for driver Adam Merner, trainer Stephen Gass and owner Barry Martin of Sydney, N.S.
Woodmere Bolt claimed the $16,000 O’Brien gold division for two-year-old pacing colts for his sixth straight win with a new best of 1:58.4 for trainer-driver Earl Smith and owners Peter Smith of Stratford, Gerald Morrissey of Vernon River and Arnold Hagen of Bible Hill, N.S.
Live racing continues on P.E.I., with a program Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Monday afternoon for a Labour Day holiday program at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway with a 1 p.m. start.
Nick’s Picks
Saturday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park:
Race 1 – Evening Maelstrom
Race 2 – Howmacs Dragonator
Race 3 – Dustylanekazaam
Race 4 – You Aint Dolly
Race 5 – Good Luck Kathy
Race 6 – Arts Taxi
Race 7 – Dilans Mustang
Race 8 – Notorious
Race 9 – Nogreatmischief
Race 10 – Sodwana Bay
Race 11 – Starcastic
Race 12 – Rose Run Quest
Race 13 – Complete Player
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
