Sweet 16 for Irish Ray

Atlantic Canada’s undefeated star Irish Ray (Muscle Through It) won his 16th consecutive harness racing dash in a crushing Atlantic Sires Stakes (ATSS) victory at Inverness Raceway on Thursday (Aug. 23).

The gelding was never tested, extending his lead through each section, and blew his rivals away by 11 lengths in 2:00.3. Dynamical Tad (Ken Arsenault) was best of the rest, a length clear of Windemergotmuscle (Redmond Doucet).

IRISH RAY REPLAY

With the win, Irish Ray has surpassed $100,000 in career earnings to $104,908 in 16 starts and 16 wins. Campbell trains the gelding for Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston.

The card also featured the final preliminary ATSS leg for two-year-old trotters. Dusty Lane Wee (E L Rocket, Campbell) dominated the first split in an eight-and-three-quarter-length romp. She tallied that third ATSS win of the season in 2:07.2 for trainer Leonard Myers and owners Garry Macdonald and Ronnie Gass. Rocket Blast (E L Rocket) ignited down the lane and took off for a three-length score in 2:05.4 in the second division. It was the gelding’s second win in six starts as a rookie. He has hit the board in all four of his other starts for owner/trainer Carl Bagnall.

Dusty Lane Wee defended the one-point lead he took into the last round and finished first in the division’s point standings with 32. Rocket Blast moved into second with 31. Irish Ray was a runaway winner in the three-year-old standings. The trotters will contest their Atlantic Breeders Crown Final on Oct. 8.

Inverness Raceway will continue racing on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink