27-year-old record falls at Truro

Oceanview Daisy (E L Rocket) broke the Truro Raceway harness racing track record for three-year-old trotting fillies, which had stood since 1997, in the first Atlantic Sires Stakes (AtSS) division for sophomore squaregaiters on Friday (Jul. 5).

The filly stormed away in the first quarter for Myles Heffernan of :28.2 and maintained open lengths on her rivals to the half in :58.1. She hit three-quarters on top in 1:28.1 and was rock-solid against the pocket-tripping Dusty Lane Darby (Adam Merner) down the stretch to win her seasonal debut in 1:59.1. Camco Laraido (Ken Murphy) was more than 20 lengths back in third.

OCEANVIEW DAISY REPLAY

The victory lowered Oceanview Daisy’s mark by more than four seconds. She was three-for-eight at two with wins in the AtSS and Lady Slipper but broke three times. Heffernan trains the sophomore for Jackie Heffernan of Summerville and Barry Macleod of Cardigan. The filly has now earned $23,995 and won four of nine career outings.

The previous record of 1:59.4 was set by Dunmore Skye in an AtSS contest in August 1997.

The second division for three-year-old trotters went to Dusty Lane Wee, making it a sweep for the fillies and sire E L Rocket. Getting Tipsy (Michael McGuigan) closed in at the pylons but had to settle for second. Rocket Blast (Corey MacPherson) was third.

DUSTY LANE WEE REPLAY

Marc Campbell steered Dusty Lane Wee to the 2:00.1 score, a new lifetime mark, for trainer Myers Leonard. The wire-to-wire win was the first in three tries this year for the 2023 Atlantic Breeders Crown champion. She is now eight-for-15 lifetime with $51,802 in the bank. Garry MacDonald of Dundas co-owns her with breeder Ronnie Gass of Cornwall.

The card also featured the first two-year-old AtSS action of the season with two divisions for trotters. Supreme Rockette (E L Rocket) wired the first split in a five-length romp in 2:03 with McGuigan in the bike. Fire The Rocket (Murphy) was best of the rest with Dusty Lane Gus (Leonard) well behind in third.

SUPREME ROCKETTE REPLAY

Supreme Rockette qualified in 2:05.4 on Jun. 26. McGuigan conditions the first daughter of the Federal Flex mare Supreme Monarch. James Whalen of Vernon Bridge owns and bred the filly.

McGuigan swept the leg as he guided Oceanview Nikki, another E L Rocket offspring, to a 2:05 coast-to-coast win. West River Jet (Mary MacDonald) stayed with her into the stretch and was a solid second. Dusty Lane Kahlua (Merner) completed the ticket, more than 20 lengths behind after a second-quarter break.

OCEANVIEW NIKKI REPLAY

Oceanview Nikki was purchased for $13,500 from the Atlantic Classic sale by Blue Diamond Racing of Emyvale and Josh MacDonald of Little Pond. The filly out of King Kong Kate won her sole qualifier at Charlottetown on Jun. 26 in 2:05.2.

The rookie pacing fillies kicked off their careers on the card with a pair of AtSS A-level groups. Saulsbrook Inferno became the first winner for sire Flameproof Hanover as she captured the first division in 1:58.4. She held off the first-over advance of the tough Woodmere Flojo (MacPherson) by a quarter-length for Campbell. Jafetica (Heffernan) was third.

SAULSBROOK INFERNO REPLAY

Saulsbrook Inferno also ensured her dam, Ainsleynoelle, would maintain a perfect production record, becoming her fourth winner from four offspring. Earl Watts trains Saulsbrook Inferno, a $25,000 Atlantic Classic purchase by Windemere Farms of Springvale, Hollis Newson of Cornwall, Sterling Buchanan of Bonshaw, and Jack Quinn of Charlottetown.

Lorne Valley Liv (Tobago Cays, Merner) completed the day’s AtSS action as she muscled past Pandemonic (Heffernan) from the pocket for the 2:01.4 victory in the second split. Ruthless Diva (Murphy) was just behind them in third.

LORNE VALLEY LIV REPLAY

Lorne Valley Liv, trained by Heffernan, is a homebred for Macleod. She qualified at Charlottetown on Jun. 26 in 2:00.2, finishing third.

The winners of the AtSS B divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies were Howmac Artislast (Articulator, Merner, 2:00.2) and Howmac Maleficent (Malicious, Murphy, 2:01.3).

Racing is set to resume at Truro Raceway on Sunday, Jul. 7 at 1:00 p.m. ADT. The card will feature the Frank and Beth Stanfield Memorial, Lindsay Construction Cup Invitational, and the first leg of the Atlantic Ages Pacing Mares Series.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink