Tobins Chester doing Gamester proud

Tobins Chester (Shanghai Phil) will aim for his fifth consecutive harness racing victory as he takes on Merigo Magic again in this afternoon’s Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts at Inverness Raceway.

Tobins Chester, a defending Atlantic Breeders Crown champion, goes for conditioner Ashley Gamester, who took over his training before the start of his sophomore campaign. One of the stars of the Maritimes over the last two years, he has never lost in the Atlantic Sires Stakes (AtSS) with three wins this year and four plus the Breeders Crown as a freshman. He also won a division of the Donnie and George Turner Memorial on Jun. 2 and is four-for-five on the season. Overall, his bankroll totals $83,754, and he has prevailed in 11 of 15 career starts for owner Donald MacRae.

Gamester said she’s grateful to have a horse of his calibre.

“It’s very exciting to train a horse like him,” she said. “I get nervous when he races, but he loves to win and always puts in a great effort. He always makes me extremely proud when he steps on the track.”

The Islander groomed Tobins Chester through his two-year-old year for Jason Hughes. The horse went seven-for-10 in 2023 with victories in the AtSS, P.E.I. Colt Stakes, and Maritime Breeders Stakes. Gamester was nominated for the Outstanding Groom Award at the O’Briens for her efforts last year. She became the gelding’s trainer after Hughes’s suspension in February that has since been overturned on appeal.

Gamester has been pleased with the horse’s progress.

“He has grown a little bit between two and three and matured,” she said. “He is a true professional to do anything with this year.”

Tobins Chester has drawn into the second tier to the inside of Merigo Magic (Tobago Cays), one of Atlantic Canada’s best three-year-olds. Tobins Chester handed the rival gelding his first defeat of the season last week in a photo finish in the AtSS. Merigo Magic was perfect in six tries prior to that contest with tallies in the AtSS, Turner Memorial, P.E.I. Colt Stakes, and two conditioned races. He is 11-for-17 lifetime with $84,833 in earnings for owners Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron, and Ian Walker.

TOBINS CHESTER JULY 20 REPLAY

The Melissa Rennie-trained gelding defeated Tobins Chester once at two in the Joe O’Brien Memorial and earlier in 2024 in the P.E.I. Colt, but the score stands 3-2 in favour of Gamester’s entry. Adam Merner will take his usual seat behind Merigo Magic, listed as 3-1 on the morning line, as the gelding leaves from the second-tier post eight.

Gamester predicts a tight contest as Hughes will steer Tobins Chester, the 5/2 morning line favourite, out of post seven.

“With both Merigo Magic and Chester having the second tier, I feel like it’ll be an interesting race. I’m glad I’m not doing the driving,” she said jokingly. “I’m confident Jason will work out a great trip.”

Among those looking to upset them are Pauls Crown (Hilarious Halo, 7/2) Jackies Boy (Tobago Cays, 5-1), Little Leroy (Source Of Pride, 4-1), and Reassurance (Stonebridge Terror, 9/2). Pauls Crown has one win through 10 tries this year but six place efforts and cheques in every start. He has finished within striking range of the top two several times this season and will look to rebound after a fourth last out. Marc Campbell will pilot the gelding out of post three. Jackies Boy won two stakes events to start the year, divisions of the Turner Memorial and P.E.I. Colt. The Heffernan-trained and -driven gelding then finished second in the AtSS but has since missed the board twice. He’ll aim to return to form here but leaves from the outside post six.

Little Leroy steps up after back-to-back AtSS B-level wins, having shown speed in both. Redmond Doucet is charged with the colt leaving from post five. Reassurance completed the triactor behind Tobins Chester and Merigo Magic last week and dominated an overnight event two back. He will leave from the four-hole with Brodie MacPhee at the lines.

Also in the field are Sonny Jax (Pang Shui, Paul Langille, 7-1, post 1) and Harry Holmes (Rollwithitharry, Lawrence Snow, 6-1, post 2).

That event is carded as race 11 on a strong program that includes the Phil Pinkney Memorial and Inverness Invitational Pace. There are also two B-level dashes of the AtSS.

First post is set for 1:00 p.m. ADT.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink