The Charlottetown Driving Park was buzzing on Sunday afternoon as the half-oval hosted the Atlantic Breeders Crown extravaganza which featured some of the brightest stars of the Maritime provinces
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Here’s a complete recap of the highlights that took place on today’s 14-race program:
$25,000 Atlantic Breeders Crown – 3CP
It was a gate-to-wire score for War Dancer, who notched his third consecutive victory for driver Gary Chappell and trainer Stacey Lund. The gelded son of Western Paradise-Temples May Day rolled the field through panels of :29.2, :59 and 1:27.2 before drawing off to win by more than three lengths in a smart clocking of 1:56.3. Porthill Gatsby was second best and race favourite Ultimate Success rounded out the top three.
Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd, Daniel Ross and Charles Seymour hold the papers on the career winner of $58,802, who now owns a 12-3-0 record from 16 trips postward this season.
$25,000 Atlantic Breeders Crown – 2FP
The win streak is now seven-in-a-row and counting for Meridian Magic, who parked past the quarter pole for trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault before touching down on the lead and front-stepping her way to victory lane. She drew off to win by more than five lengths in a time of 1:59 defeating C H Tocoohno and Seawind Allegra in the process.
Barry Martin and James Gillis of Sydney, NS share ownership on the precocious daughter of Largo-Hot Asset, who owns a 7-1-2 record in the first 10 starts of her career. The lion’s share of Sunday’s purse bumped her bankroll to $43,802.
$25,000 Atlantic Breeders Crown – 2CP
Kenny Arsenault also employed “catch me if you can” tactics with Allbentouttashape, who drew clear to win by more than a pair of lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:57.4. Ringmaster enjoyed a pocket trip en route to finishing second while Mr Salming rallied to grab the show dough.
The Dooley Boys Racing Stable of Halifax, NS own the gelded son of Quick Comeback-C A Lady who has put together a 10-3-0 record in 13 starts while banking $49,519 along the way.
$25,000 Atlantic Breeders Crown – 3FP
A three-horse photo came into play in this affair, with R Es Mary coming out on top over race favourite Darko by a head. Woodmere Humdinger, who was beaten a neck, finished third in the 1:58.3 decision.
It was the fourth win of the campaign for the daughter of N Xample-Kona Queen who was driven by Earl Smith. He conditions the career winner of $76,847 for the PEI partnership of Peter Smith, Donald Smith, Gerald Morrissey and Larry Chappell. The sophomore is now a six-time winner in her career.
$7,500 Atlantic Breeders Crown – 2OT
There’s been no stopping Scarlet Patti this season, and it was more of the same in her Sunday assignment. The daughter of PJs Nabby-Scarlet Nite motored away to a 10-length score over Diamond Mine and B J Eldorado in a time of 2:05.3.
It was the seventh consecutive victory for the youngster, who was handled by Darryl MacLean. He conditions the homebred filly, who is 8-for-10 this season, for owner Gordon MacLean of Winsloe, PE. The trotter has banked $25,833 to date.
$7,500 Atlantic Breeders Crown – 3OT
Co-favourites finished first and second in this affair with Grayland Bling prevailing over West River Tigger in a career-best clocking of 2:02.4. The son of Black River-Sturdy romped away in the late stages en route to winning by more than six lengths. Comere was a distant third.
Trained and driven by Danny Romo, the chestnut gelding won for the fourth week-in-a-row for owner Paul Gray of Pugwash, NS. The career winner of $38,207 is now 10-for-25 lifetime.
$3,000 Breeders Crown Classic Distaff
Not even Post 7 and a first-over trip could keep Olivia Hall from finding her way to the winner’s circle for trainer/driver Ron Matheson. The five-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall-Original Artist, who is owned by Matheson and partner Tom Clark of Charlottetown, PE, prevailed by a quarter of a length over Princess Julia in a time of 1:58.2. Kaitlyn Rose was third.
The victory was the fourth of the season in 13 trips postward for the career winner of $32,400.
$6,000 Invitational
The win streak is now five-in-a-row and counting for the hard-hitting Outlawpositivcharg, who went for a Sunday stroll in his assignment for trainer/driver Terry Gallant. The speedy five-year-old son of Blissfull Hall-Electromagnetic parked past the quarter pole before making the lead and laying down middle splits of :56.1 and 1:26.2. He tacked on a :29.4 final frame for good measure en route to winning by more than three lengths over runner-up Abby Best. Third prize went to Astronomical.
Fred Lamont of Calgary, AB holds the papers on the 27-time winner, who has put together a 12-3-2 record in 19 trips postward this season. The lion’s share of the purse bumped his lifetime earnings to $108,444.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.