Truro Raceway launches the September meet Sunday with a 12-dash card with the feature slated for Race 11.
Sunday's top class boasts eight talented starters with the undefeated three-year-old daughter of Western Ideal, Natural Instinct, leaving off of the rail for Kentucky connection Louis Willinger and Al McNeil of Windsor. Partnered with trainer/driver Al McNeil, this dynamic duo has earned its way into the fast class in just five starts since July.
Horse and driver will have their work cut out for them with challengers such as Ryan Ellis' San Marco Hanover and Kenny Greene's St. Lads Dagwood, both showing early speed and late closing stamina.
Sue Karrel's aged pacer Dreams Matter, in line to trainer Danny Romo, also knows the game and has been consistently good of late, meriting serious consideration for a win.
It's sure to be an interesting contest from gate to wire.
Post time for Sunday is 1:30 p.m. with qualifying rounds on deck for noon.
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The 2012 fall schedule is a full program with the historic $7,500 Johnny Conroy Invitational Pace on tap for Sept. 16 followed by the Nova Scotia Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies Sept. 23.
The prestigious Marg and Carl MacKenzie Memorial Stake for three-year-olds and the Nova Scotia Stake for two-year-old pacing colts are both scheduled for Sept. 30.
October's calendar includes the Maritime breeders eliminations and finals for two-year-old pacers and trotters along with the Donnie and George Turner Memorial Stake for three-year-old pacers.
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Windsor's Saulsbrook Stables posted the first win of a Somebeachsomewhere offspring at Truro Raceway as driver/trainer Al McNeil guided the two-year-old "Beach" filly Heroine Hanover to her first pari-mutuel victory.
Out of the Abercrombie dam Hattie, Heroine Hanover covered the ground in 2:02 flat to register her first visit to the winner's circle in four starts.
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The Rennison Stable, experiencing a banner August, has again increased its stock, adding a five-year-old son of RockinRoll Hanover, Rockin Ray.
Winning his last start in 1:57.1 off of a gate-to-wire effort, the New York-bred pacer has gone up to a $3,000 claim price in Race 10 on Sunday's card.
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Kevin Gillis' seven-year-old Mya Papaya is returning stateside in the near future to continue a Maine campaign started this spring.
Race fans looking for excitement should enjoy this evening at the Raceway with Georgian Downs partnering with Standardbred Canada to present Xtreme Horsepower.
Races will include shot gun and walking starts, horseless sulky pulls, a dash for cash in a 1/8-mile contest, trotters under saddle and new for this year the all-gray colored race and other events.
Later in the evening Mohawk hosts a $3-million program featuring the annual $1-million Metro Pace final for two-year-olds with 10 of the country's finest competing including two sons of world champion Somebeachsomewhere.
Bible Hill native Jody Jamieson gets the call behind 'Beach baby' Apprentice Hanover, out of Post 3, while Tim Tetrick will have a seat behind the second Somebeachsomewhere offspring Captaintreacherous.
Somebeachsomewhere, one of the greatest pacers of all time who was owned by a group of Truro investors and trained by Truro's Brent MacGrath, won the Metro Pace on Sept. 1, 2007 in 1:49.3.
Simulcast programming starts today at 1:30 p.m. with both thoroughbred and standardbred racing.
Diane Daniels is race office secretary at Truro Raceway.
