Big Surf opened his 2016 season on a winning note taking the Saturday night harness racing feature at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Marc Campbell guided the son of the Somebeachsomewhere to victory taking command of the race from gate charger Forever Paradise (Gilles Barrieau) on route to the opening quarter and posted fractions of 29, 59.1, 1:28.4 to claim top honors in 1:59.3 by five and half lengths over Forever Paradise and First Art Down (Ken Murphy). The track was rated sloppy with a four second variant.
Big Surf is trained by Trevor Hicken for owners Burkie By The Bay Stables, Ten Mile House, PE and Perry Burke, Grosse Ile, QC.
Terry Gallant recorded a driving-training triple on the program with stable mates Southfield Sassy, owned by Southfield Farms Inc, Summerside, PE, Claire L Colquhoun, Toronto, Ontario, Silverhill Cupid for Silverhill Farms, Tignish, PE and Motorino for his co-owner Eric Johnston, Summerside, PE.
Brian Andrew recorded a training double with a driving score aboard Hurrah while his other trainee Blazing By took top honours for catch-driver Kenny Arsenault in race 13 which was marred by an accident.
Leader PL Faststrike, driven by Gilles Barrieau, made a break and went down as the field raced around the final turn unseating his driver. Balanchine, under the command of Ron Matheson, clipped the race bike of the fallen horse throwing Matheson to the track. Matheson was transported to hospital after complaining of a sore hip. Barrieau walked away from the spill. Balanchine and PL Faststrike were attended by the track veterinarian for some minor injuries.
For complete results go to www.redshores.ca
Lee Drake