SUMMERSIDE, PE – Mystery Phil came to play Sunday afternoon, rewarding his harness racing backers in the featured event at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The win completed a driving triple for Adam Merner and a training double for Melissa Rennie of Charlottetown.
Leaving from post 2 in the $2,650 featured event, Mystery Phil got away third and watched Woodmere Ideal Art (Driven by Robert Laffin) slice out the fractions of 28, 57.2 and 1:26.1. Mystery Phil then tried his luck first-up in the final panel and prevailed in the stretch for a 1:55.3 victory with Heart And Soul (Walter Cheverie) rallying for second and Woodmere Ideal Art third.
The win was number eight of Mystery Phil's career and he is now owned by Dale and Ronnie Rennie of Elmsdale.
Melissa Rennie also had trainee Likely To Win score off the front end in race 9 in 1:57.4 with Merner in the seat for her other win. The missing piece of Merner's driving triple was in race 8 with the Deanna Clow trained Whosurwinner in 1:58.
Driver Gilles Barrieau had three trips to the winner's circle on the program starting the action off in race 2 with La Vie En Rose in 2:01.4 for trainer Stacey Lund of Charlottetown, then followed it up in race 5 with Khitam Image in 1:59.3 for Marvyn Webster of Kensington.
The Saint John driver's third win was the biggest upset of the day as Dragon Teeth converted a two-hole ride into victory in 1:57.1 paying $29.60 to win from the Frank Banks stable of Summerside.
Wager was $43,689
For race replays and more go to Redshores.ca.
By Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores