Fifth straight for Atlantic rookie star

Two-year-old Malevolent (Malicious) won his fifth harness racing stakes event in a row as he crushed rivals in the Phil Pinkney Memorial at Northside Downs on Saturday (Oct. 19).

The gelding was a gapped-off fifth to the quarter in :27.4 for Paul Langille, but he chased the pack and began his first-over journey before the field reached the half in :58.2. He went on the offensive in the third panel, rocketing by his opponents to a four-length lead at three-quarters in 1:27.3. He bottomed them out further in the final split, sailing away to a six-and-a-half-length romp in 1:56.4. Income Approach (Adam Merner) was best of the rest with One Can Dan (Redmond Doucet) further back in third.

MALEVOLENT REPLAY

It was the eighth victory in nine starts as a two-year-old for Malevolent, a Langille-trained gelding. The freshman has earned $73,007 for owners Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner and Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow. He won his division’s Atlantic Breeders Crown along with legs of the Joe O’Brien and P.E.I. Colt Stakes.

Lady Hess (Heston Blue Chip) captured the filly division of the Phil Pinkney Memorial for her fourth stakes score. Piloted by Merner, she sat the pocket behind Talldarklatte (Brodie MacPhee) and pounced on the final turn. The filly rolled past the pacesetter down the stretch and drew away to win by a length-and-three-quarters in 1:57.3.

Talldarklatte took the place spot with two lengths separating him from show finisher Saulsbrook Inferno (Doucet).

LADY HESS REPLAY

Lady Hess is six-for-11 in her two-year-old campaign for trainer Jamie Smith and owners Groupof7 Stable of Charlottetown. The filly has earned $40,593.

In the Winners-Over, Hugh Heff’s (Betterthancheddar) winning streak appeared to end at eight as the North American wins leader finished second. The gelding, driven by Randy Getto, was first-up for much of the mile and was still closing at the end, securing what became a crucial place finish. The judges lit the inquiry sign on the winner, Bacononabiscuit, though, and placed him fourth for interference at the quarter.

Hugh Heff was promoted to the win, giving him nine straight victories. Heave Away (Langille) moved up to second and Q Ts Charlie (Jeremy Baker) inherited third.

HUGH HEFF REPLAY

Trained by Dana Getto for Randy Getto, Susan Macsween, and Wayne Hardy, Hugh Heff now has 23 wins on the season, the most of any horse in North America. The four-year-old has racked up 31 lifetime tallies and $103,901 in 71 career appearances.

Northside Downs is set to host its next card on Saturday, Oct. 26.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink