Our Girl Annie takes new mark in Stanfield Memorial

Our Girl Annie (Arthur Blue Chip) flipped the script on Rock N Roll Cays in the Frank and Beth Stanfield Memorial at Truro Raceway on Saturday (Jul. 21), beating the filly whom she was second to in the prior week’s Atlantic Sires Stakes leg.

Rock N Roll Cays (Ken Murphy) wanted the lead and hustled past Our Girl Annie to take point from post seven at the quarter in :28. The former completed the middle splits in :57.3 and 1:26.4.

Our Girl Annie, driven by Corey MacPherson,  remained in the tow until entering the stretch, when she kicked out to commence a battle with Rock N Roll Cays. Rock N Roll Cays put up all she had in resistance, but Our Girl Annie shoved her neck in front lane to capture the Stanfield Memorial for three-year-old pacing fillies in 1:55.3.

Rock N Roll Cays was a valiant second. Onlythegooddiyoung (Gilles Barrieau) was third.

OUR GIRL ANNIE REPLAY

The time was a new lifetime best for the filly, who is now three-for-six this season. She has won nine of 15 in her career, including seven stakes events. Eddy Doucette trains the homebred filly for Blaine, Jessica, and Jennifer Thibeau of Kensington.

The second division also went down to the wire. This time, the leader held off the charging pocket-sitter: Saulsbrook Mabel (Malicious, Barrieau), cutting the mile from post one, reached home in time to deny Woodmere Clara (Mary Clare Macdonald) by a head in 1:56.4. Next In Line (Jason Hughes) finished third after a first-up assault.

SAULSBROOK MABEL REPLAY

It was the first win since May for the filly, who placed in her last three starts. She was previously unbeaten and is now five-for-eight lifetime with $42,276 in earnings. Joseph Baxter conditions her and shares ownership with Saulsbrook Stables of Windsor (NS).

The card also featured a pair of Atlantic Sires Stakes divisions for freshman pacing colts. Merigo Magic (Tobago Cays, Adam Merner) coasted in the first split, scoring by four-and-a-half lengths in 2:00.1. Tobins Chester (Shanghai Phil, Hughes) kept his career record perfect by doubling up in the second division. He motored down the lane for a :27.4 final quarter and a 1:59.2 mile time.

Truro Raceway will resume action on Sunday, Jul. 23 at 1:00 p.m. ADT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink