AtSS divisions close after round two

Atlantic Sires Stakes (AtSS) standings remain tight after second round harness racing action at Truro Raceway on Tuesday with the four “A” splits that went postward resulting in two deadlocked divisions.

Woodmere Jazz and Boo Yaya, winners of their two-year-old pacing filly divisions in round one at Summerside Raceway on Jul. 7, both doubled their tallies on Tuesday.

Boo Yaya produced the quickest mile among AtSS starters on the card in a photo finish victory.

Leaving from post three, driver Marc Campbell briefly tucked the Stonebridge Terror (PE) filly into third but quickly sent her two-wide for the front. Boo Yaya made the lead at the quarter mile pole in :29.1, but Kinda Like Royalty (Walter Cheverie) launched to the top and took point shortly after. Kinda Like Royalty took the six-horse field to the half in :58.2 and turned away Jj Scarlett (Donald Gillis Jr.) at three-quarters in 1:28.

Boo Yaya was gapping the pocket at that third station, but he closed down the leader and slid to the outside at the head of the lane. Kinda Like Royalty held strong for much of the stretch, but Boo Yaya found a second wind and put his nose in front at the finish to score in 1:57.2. Kinda Like Royalty was second, and Saltwater Storm (Brodie Macphee) gained in the final quarter to finish third.

BOO YAYA REPLAY

Robert Mac Leod trains $3 winner Boo Yaya, who is owned by Hugh Maceachern of Inverness and Ali Maceachern of Truro. The filly is now two-for-three lifetime.

Woodmere Jazz had a far more comfortable victory, going wire-to-wire to remain undefeated.

The daughter of Rollwithitharry (PE) fired away from the start and circled three-wide rivals to take the lead entering the first turn. She cut out a :28.4 quarter and :59.2 half for Gilles Barrieau, triggering first-over action from West River Glo (Mary Macdonald), who gave cover to Rhojo Moe (Campbell) and Cougar On A Terr (Gillis Jr.).

None of those rivals came within a length of the lead though, as Woodmere Jazz accelerated to three-quarters in 1:28.4 and left no work for Barrieau as she completed the victory handily in 1:57.4. Rhojo Moe out-finished West River Glo for place; the latter took show. The winner returned $3.30.

WOODMERE JAZZ REPLAY

Owner Reginald Mac Pherson of Stratford purchased the filly from the 2020 Atlantic Classic sale for $14,500. He assigned Kevin Maclean to training duties and has seen the winner’s circle after all three of the horse’s starts.

Woodmere Jazz and Boo Yaya are tied for first place in their division’s standings with 12 points each. Starters receive six points for a win, four for place, three for show, two for fourth, and one for fifth. Standings after six rounds determine which horses are eligible for the Atlantic Breeders Crown Championship on Oct. 11. The rookie pacing fillies battle again on Aug. 19 at Charlottetown Driving Park. To view standings for the division, click here.

Up Helly Aa reversed first round results with Moonshine Monday as the former won Tuesday’s two-year-old trot division over the latter, who finished third after breaking stride.

Moonshine Monday (Myles Heffernan Sr.) defended his rail position into the first turn and assumed the top spot. Mr Miller (Cory Macpherson) pocketed up from post two and glued himself to the leader’s helmet, denying Up Helly Aa an inside spot. Driver Kenneth Macdonald conceded after nearly a quarter mile on the outside and dropped Up Helly Aa back into third. Moonshine Monday reported to the first station in :30.4. Those three proceeded single file to the half in 1:03.4 as the remaining starter, Windemere On Track (Gary Chappell), lagged well behind.

Up Helly Aa activated from third on the backstretch and put Moonshine Monday under duress as they passed three-quarters in 1:35.4. The latter went off stride as Up Helly Aa threatened to go by, allowing Mr Miller a chance at the victory up the inside, but Up Helly Aa produced more pace in the stretch to score 2:05.3.

Mr Miller was short by a quarter of a length in second. Moonshine Monday returned to the trot at mid-stretch but finished eight lengths behind in third. The winner paid $7.50.

UP HELLY AA REPLAY

The win was a maiden-breaker for Up Hilly Aa, a son of Armbro Barrister (PE). Mary Macdonald trains him for Riley Farms Ltd. of Summerside, which took the colt home from the Atlantic Classic Sale with a winning bid of $20,000.

Up Helly Aa and Moonshine Monday are now tied for the lead in the two-year-old trotting division. They will renew their rivalry at Inverness Raceway on Aug. 4. To view division standings, click here.

2020 two-year-old trot Atlantic Breeders Crown champion Mr Finlay Ridge became the day’s only winner to attain a clear advantage in a division as he dominated his fellow sophomore trotters.

In line to trainer Mary Macdonald, second-tier starter Mr Finlay Ridge followed rail-sitter Fireball Friday (Heffernan Sr.) off the start and got a pocket ride through the first quarter in :29.4. Macdonald made a decisive brush shortly after completing that split and put her Armbro Barrister gelding on the lead.

Mr Finlay Ridge maintained a quick pace through :59.4 and 1:29.3 middle splits, opening up seven lengths on the field of nine at three-quarters. Fellow first round winner Dusty Lane Milo (Adam Merner) was the only horse to gain in the final panel as Mr Finlay Ridge cruised to victory in 2:00.1. The former finished second by three and three quarter lengths. Rich Daydreams (Kenneth Arsenault) was another ten lengths behind in third.

MR FINLAY RIDGE REPLAY

$2.70 winner Mr Finlay Ridge has now won nine of 12 lifetime starts. He crushed his opponents in the first round and is in the driver’s seat in the standings after defeating Dusty Lane Milo. The three-year-old trotters will go to post again on Aug. 4 for the division’s penultimate race. To view division standings, click here.

Pang Shui offspring Windemere Miagrace led throughout and comfortably won the only AtSS “B” dash of the afternoon – a race for two-year-old pacing fillies – in 1:59.1. Merner drove for trainer Ronnie Gass, and owner Boys Will Be Boys 2 of Charlottetown.

Truro Raceway’s next program on Friday, Jul. 16 features one AtSS “A” contest for freshman colt pacers. The Atlantic Sires Stakes is for offspring of 20 registered sires — three from Nova Scotia and 17 from Prince Edward Island.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink