J J Tanner and Carters Caper broke through with 'A' victories in the final leg of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts on Sunday (Sept. 3) at Inverness Raceway.
In the first of two $10,100 'A' divisions, J J Tanner advanced from fifth on the way past the third quarter mark and out-finished Howmacs Dragonator to score by a quarter-length in 1:59.4 in rein to Danny Romo. Cowboys Dont Cry was third. The winner returned $15.10 while the favourite and divisional point-leader Ashes To Ashes broke stride early on.
J J Tanner, who took his mark of 1:58.4 in a July 'B' division at Truro Raceway, has won four of his 15 starts this year. The Articulator-Fritzel Hanover gelding is trained by Robert Phillips of South Pinette, P.E.I., who co-owns with Kevin Harvey of Hammonds Plains, N.S.
Phillips and Harvey also took the $2,500 'B' division with Redwhiteandboots (Brandons Cowboy-Star Spangled), who won in 2:00.2 with Gilles Barrieau in the bike.
In the other 'A' split, Carters Caper converted off a pocket trip to defeat pacesetter Tobinator by a neck in 1:58.1 for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald. He paid $13.40 to win. Ic A Free Spirit finished two lengths behind in third while favoured Lucbobski finished fourth after a first-over journey.
Owned by Morah Kerr of Greenfield and Phonsie MacEachern of Port Hood, N.S., the homebred Western Paradise-J J Solara gelding equalled his lifetime mark with his first Sires Stakes victory of the season. He now has two wins in 13 starts this year.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.