Charlottetown, PE – Race favorites Wicked Nick and Pappy Go Go captured their respective divisions in the rich Blair Andrew memorial stakes for harness racing two year-old trotters Thursday at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Wicked Nick fired from the rail position to the lead and never looked back scoring in 2:06.4 for driver Gary Chappell. The trotter, sent off as the heavy favorite at $2.70, notched his fourth win of the campaign for owners Peter Buchanan, North Wiltshire, PE and Cameron Trail, O'Leary, PE. The victory in the $10,850 event pushes his bank account to $17,320.
Pappy Go Go earned his fourth win from six starts in the second division of the Blair Andrew Memorial. The two-year-old was handled by Marc Campbell for Greyland Farms, Pugwash, N.S. Bred by William Andrew, Calgary, Alberta, the trotter now has a personal best of 2:02.3. Brian Andrew of Meridian Farms was trackside to greet the winning connections and present the cooler.
Some of the best trotters on the East coast went behind the gate in race 10 in the open trot with Freddie going the distance for Campbell's second winner in 1:59.4 and Three Wisemen stable, Cornwall, PE.
In the other trot action, veteran Caliban Hanover picked up 54th lifetime win for driver Adam Merner, owner Wendell MacDonald, Cornwall and trainer Ron Gass.
Cabo Pan Lucas pulled off an upset to capture the evening's top class in 1:57.1 for catch-driver Kenny Arsenault. The pacer, owned by Alan Walker and trainer Gary Poulton, Charlottetown, PE paid $16.50. Tempo Seelster (Vince Poulton) ws second with fraction setter Bazilion (Brian MacPhee). It was Arsenault's second trip to the winner's circle on the card.
Gilles Barrieau and Campbell ended the night with driving triples.
For complete results go to www.redshores.ca
By Lee Drake