Malignity crushed the competition in the Maritime Breeders Stakes championships for two-year-old pacers with a track record performance at Truro Raceway on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 23).
Malignity became the fastest freshman ever over the Truro oval, winning a $20,475 stakes division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings in 1:54 flat for trainer/driver Paul Langille. He knocked one-fifth of a second off the rookie record set by Woodmere Stealdeal in the 2020 Martime Breeders Stakes.
Malignity took charge early leaving from post three and held an uncontested lead throughout the mile, cruising through fractions of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:25 en route to the 15-1/2-length victory. The race for place was won by Meraki (Darryl MacLean), with No Boats Sunday (Myles Heffernan) and Roman Raven (Gilles Barrieau) rounding out the field that was scratched down to four.
Fresh off a 12-length victory in the Atlantic Breeders Crown two weeks ago, Malignity was sent postward as overwhelming 1-9 favourite and paid just $2.10 to win.
Bred by Gary MacPherson of North Wiltshire, P.E.I., the gelded son of Malicious out of Lady Kelleigh Anne is nine-for-11 in his debut season and has earned nearly $72,000 for owners Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner, N.S. and Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow, N.S.
The other division for pacing colts was won by Wild Ride Stable's Woodmere Xpeedia in gate-to-wire fashion.
Trainer/driver Dale Spence guided the Arthur Blue Chip-Wild Ride Hanover gelding out to the lead from the pylon post and charted splits of :28.3, :59 and 1:28.3 en route to a maiden-breaking 1:57.4 victory. He bested the popular pocket-sitter Howmac Charmer (Todd Trites) by 2-3/4 lengths while Elm Grove Restwind (David Dowling) rallied wide from the back to show.
The 2021 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale topper, who sold for a record-setting $68,000, was making just his second start.
He returned $19.90 as the longest shot on the board.
Driver Mark Bradley swept the $20,600 filly divisions with Saulsbrook Mabel and Our Girl Annie.
The lightly raced Saulsbrook Mabel was the fastest filly winner in a career-best 1:55.4, leading all the way to remain undefeated for trainer Joseph Baxter.
Saulsbrook Mabel assumed command off the gate from the inside post and set fractions of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:27.1 before drawing off by 3-3/4 lengths down the stretch. Favourite Rock N Roll Cays (Gills Barrieau) advanced first-over to place while Next In Line (Jason Hughes) was next across the wire.
The even-money second choice in the betting, Saulsbrook Mabel paid $4 to win.
Baxter co-owns the Malicious-Southwind Oasis miss with breeder Saulsbook Stables of Windsor, N.S. With three wins in as many starts, she's earned just shy of $15,000 to date.
Our Girl Annie won the other filly division in 1:58.2 as the 1-9 favourite for trainer Eddy Doucette.
Woodmere Jade (Myles Heffernan) chased the gate away from post five and cut to the front through the first turn, but Our Girl Annie quickly looped to the lead by the quarter pole in :28.2. The favoured Atlantic Breeders Crown champion controlled the pace through middle splits of :58.4 and 1:29 with any threat from the outer flow dissipating as they turned for home. Woodmere Jade popped the pocket in an attempt to spring a 62-1 upset though, but Out Girl Annie held on for the victory by half a length. Marina Del Rey (Marc Campbell) finished third, 1-3/4 lengths behind off a ground-saving trip.
Our Girl Annie picked up her sixth win and lifted her bankroll to nearly $46,000 through nine starts. The homebred Arthur Blue Chip-Windsun Kenda filly is owned by Kensington, P.E.I. residents Blaine, Jessica and Jennifer Thibeau.
She paid $2.10 to win.
The Maritime Breeders Stakes were sponsored by Home Hardware.
In regular racing action, the weekly $2,500 Winners Over Pace was won by the Risky Bizz Group's American Risk, who flashed early gate speed from post six and led from start to finish in 1:53.3 with Todd Trites in tow. Trained by George Rennison, the six-year-old American Ideal gelding notched his ninth and fastest victory of the season from 21 starts. Frontier Cruise (Robert Laffin) followed in the pocket through splits of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.2 and finished one length behind the 1-2 favourite while Batterup Hanover (Paul Langille) just missed place off a late rally.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.