Charlottetown, PE – It was harness racing stakes night at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Nova Scotia owners took home the early money winning the first three divisions of the Lady Slipper grassroots. Elm Grove Luck and Clare MacDonald opened the card with a 2:00.4 score for trainer Joseph Baxter and his co-owners Todd and Trish Hardy, Windsor, NS. Imahawkchick with Danny Romo in the bike won her assignment in 2:02. The two-year-old filly is owned by Thomas Hawco, Sydney, NS while Gold Record romped in the third division spotting the field by six lengths for Bernard McCallum and owner Gordon McCabe, Truro, NS.
Heavy favorite Filly Forty Seven delivered Lady Slipper gold for Marc Campbell. The daughter of Proven Lover won by a length in 1:59.4 for the ownership team of Darryl MacLean, Winsloe, PE, Katelyn Smallwood, Stratford, Corey Carver, Montague and Tanya Tremblett, Sydney Mines, NS.
The second Lady Slipper gold for $11,400 went to Woodmere Dreams and driver Gilles Barrieau. The filly stopped the timer in 1.59.3. Ken Wilkie trains for owners Doug and Jamie Hill, Charlottetown, PE.
The two-year-colts were in the spotlight with the Joe O'Brien memorial and Mick Dundee, under the command of trainer-owner Donnie MacNeill, wired the class in 2:00 flat. Cowboys Don't Cry, driven by Corey MacPherson, took top honors in the second O'Brien grassroots split for owners Reg MacPherson, David and Aaron MacKenzie and trainer Kevin MacLean. MacPherson also took home O'Brien gold aboard Nameisonthehalter in 1:58 for Lawrence Snow, Glace Bay, NS.
Mighty Cowboy, sent off at 9/2 odds, put away a fast closing Tobinator to also win O'Brien gold. Darren Crowe was in the bike for owner David MacDonald, Halifax, NS.
Big Surf won the Saturday nightfeature in 1:54.2 for MacPherson to notch his driving grand-slam. MacPherson send the 8/5 choice to the point and clocked fractions of 27, 57.1 and 1:26. Clic K (Marc Campbell) was second with Machinthesand (Ken Murphy) third.
The final race was of the card was a dead-heat for the win. Waterside Light (Campbell) and Mozzartplace (Barrieau) hit the line together. That capped off a four win performance for Barrieau while Campbell earned his second winner of the night.
Wager was $44,491
For complete results go to www.redshores.ca
By Lee Drake