SUMMERSIDE – The Atlantic Sires Stakes’ season kicks off Wednesday for the two-year-old pacing fillies as part of Governor’s Plate Week harness racing at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The 11-dash Wednesday card starts at 7 p.m., featuring three A divisions and two B divisions for the rookie fillies.
The first $9,020 A Division is in Race 2, and features a compact field of five two-year-old pacing fillies. Driver Walter Cheverie and trainer Joseph Baxter teamed up already this season with Royaltywestho to dominate the three-year-old pacing filly division, and will look for more success with another daughter of Westhwardho Hanover. Therealdeal leaves from Post 2 to lead the way in Race 2 for the combination of Baxter and Cheverie while the Post 2 starter is owned by Jennifer Baxter and Gregory Francis of Windsor, N.S.
Other top contenders are Lady N Paradise (driven by Dave Carey) and Woodmere Rio (Earl Smith).
The second A split lines up in Race 8, and Howmac Sabrina is the favourite after turning in a sharp qualifier in 2:01.4, with a 28.1 closing panel for driver David Dowling and trainer Earl Watts. The Post 4 starting daughter of Malicious is owned by Brittany Watts of Warren Grove and Windemere Farms of Hampshire.
Other top entries are Unapologetically (Cheverie) and Dustylanbukinfuty (Corey MacPherson).
The final A Division hits the track in Race 10 for a $9,020 pot, with the sales topper from last fall’s Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale leading the way from Post 6. Woodmere Tango will have Clare MacDonald in the bike after garnering a $28,000 price tag as yearling.
Morah Kerr of Greenfield, N.S., holds the ownership papers for the daughter of Articulator after she posted a 2:01 qualifying mile at Truro Raceway in her only charted line.
Other top entries in Race 10 are Skycrew (Vincent Poulton) and Magical Mistress (Adam Merner).
A pair of $2,500 B divisions line up in Races 4 and 6.
Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
