Daniel Ross' Tobins Rebel ($2.50) not only ran his career record to a perfect four-for-four in Wednesday's (Aug. 14) Atlantic Sires Stakes for juvenile male pacers at Red Shores Charlottetown, but he also lowered his lifetime mark by more than two seconds.
With the pole-sitting Kimball B off stride before the start due to a broken hopple, Tobins Rebel and trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau were able to achieve an easy lead from post two, but were overpowered by Woodmere Rollhario (Marc Campbell) through a :28.3 quarter. Shortly thereafter, the Camystic-Eggs Panedict gelding was back off the pegs to reclaim control, and he rated middle splits of :58.3 and 1:27.4 before scampering away from Woodmere Rollhario on the final turn.
Nearing the corner for home, Tobins Rebel found himself in the crosshairs of Woodmere Rollnpop (Mary Clare MacDonald), but he was able to repel that late threat under steady encouragement to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.1. Runner-up Woodmere Rollnpop was another eight lengths clear of Mr Kelly (Adam Merner), who finished third in the second of two $13,080 Atlantic Sires Stakes "A" events on the card.
Tobins Rebel previously won a pair of stakes at Red Shores Summerside, as well as an Atlantic Sires Stakes division at Truro Raceway.
The win was Barrieau's second of the night, with the first coming aboard Best In Hurst to give the 'Maritime Magic Man' 4,500 in his career.
The first "A" event saw Windemere Ryan ($3.60) and Harry G ($8.50) both use sustained attacks on pacesetter Red Dirt Fulofhart before battling to a 1:58.3 dead heat.
After Red Dirt Fulofhart (David Dowling) controlled a :57.4 half, Windemere Ryan and Adam Merner sustained a first-over push up the backstretch, only to duck into the pocket at three-quarters in 1:28.2 while Harry G (Paul Langille) pressed on after losing cover. Harry G duelled Red Dirt Fulofhart down in upper stretch and was all-out when Windemere Ryan hooked three-wide with the most pace of any. In fact, they hit the line together while 3-1/2 lengths clear of Red Dirt Fulofhart.
Melissa Rennie trains three-time winner Windemere Ryan for the High Five Racing Stable, and Langille trains Harry G for owner-breeders Arleen, Chantel and Christina Gillis.
The dead-heat win with Windemere Ryan capped a training treble for Melissa Rennie after teaming up with Merner for victories with The Big Chase ($10.60, 2:01.2) and Always Reese ($8.60, 1:59.4) earlier on the card.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Red Shores Charlottetown.