Seventh heaven at Northside Downs

Mystifying captures rich filly stake at North Sydney venue

NORTH SYDNEY — Threeyear-old filly Mystifying, the top point-getter in her Atlantic Sire Stakes Division, stepped to her seventh win of the 2021 season, defeating a field of eight in 1:56.3 as part of a 13-dash card of harness racing Saturday afternoon at Northside Downs.

Co-owner Darryl MacLean was in the bike for the win, angling Mystifying to the outside before the half and overpowering early leader Aspoonfulofsugar heading to the three-quarter-mile mark.

From there Mystifying would draw away by four lengths from the field at the head of the stretch and win by a length and a half over a fast closing Woodmere Vanish and Paul Langille. Elm Grove Penney and Marc Campbell finished third.

Gordon MacLean of Winsloe, P.E.I. and Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, N.B., share ownership of the winning filly.

The eight-horse field raced for a purse of $17,140.

Elm Grove Penelope captured the three-year-old "B" Division for driver Redmond Doucet of Inverness and owners Steven Lewis and Henry Poswiata in 2:00.3. The margin of victory was two lengths over Saulsbrook Jewel, with JJ Halsey another six lengths back in third.

Fern Hill General kept his rookie season unbeaten streak intact, pacing to his sixth straight victory in 1:58.3 for Brodie MacPhee to win the Nova Scotia Stakes for twoyear-old pacing colts. Fern Hill General finished two-and-ahalf lengths ahead of Rollwithotttoddy, with Saulsbrook Raptor another half-length back in third. Peter Smith and Gerald Morrissey are the winning owners.

Redmond Doucet, Marc Campbell, Harold LeBlanc Jr. and Martin Bates all had driving doubles on the program.

Besides Elm Grove Penelope, Doucet won with Pictonian Speed in 2:02.

Campbell's wins came with QTS Charlie in 1:59.2 and Jetster in 2:00.2. LeBlanc won with Howmac Napoleon in 2:01.1 and Southwind Ricardo in 1:58.1. Bates picked up wins with Gotfaithincowboys in 2:03 and Blacky Black in 2:02.2.

Other winners on the card included Shadowcross Hooper for Mark Pezzarello in 2:05, Burn Em Up Burr for Gerard Kennedy in 2:02 and Johnnie Jack for Ryan Campbell in 1:58.2.

Total wager on the afternoon was $22,782.

Live harness racing action will resume at Northside Downs on Saturday with post time slated for 1 p.m. at the North Sydney track.

CONTRIBUTED • TANYA ROMEO Mystifying and driver Darryl MacLean were all alone at the wire, winning the $17,140 Atlantic Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies in 1:56.3 at Northside Downs in North Sydney on Saturday.

CONTRIBUTED • TANYA ROMEO Elm Grove Penelope and driver Redmond Doucet of Inverness were winners in the Atlantic Sire Stakes three-year-old pacing fillies ‘B’ Division in 2:00.3 on Saturday at Northside Downs in North Sydney.

CONTRIBUTED • TANYA ROMEO Fern Hill General stepped to his sixth straight victory, capturing the Nova Scotia Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts in 1:58.2 at Northside Downs on Saturday.