Published: October 31, 2009 6:39 pm ET
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Two-year-old pacing filly Meridian Magic went down the road to capture her $13,000 Lady Slipper Gold division and earn her 10th consecutive victory on Saturday’s program at Charlottetown Driving Park, which featured multiple Gold and Grassroots stake splits.
With trainer Kenny Arsenault between the wheels, Meridian Magic fired off the gate from Post 3 and carved out panels of :30 and 1:00.4 before turning back first-over challenger Oceanview Connie (Corey MacPherson) past three-quarters in 1:31.4. Heading into the stretch, the favoured daughter of Largo-Hot Asset unleashed a :28.3 kicker to secure the win in 2:00.2 by two and a half lengths. Oceanview Connie was the runner-up with Woodmere Sandollar (Stephen Trites) finishing four lengths behind in third.
Breeder Barry Martin shares ownership of the consistent filly with James Gillis of Sydney, N.S. Meridian Magic now sports a record reading 10-1-3 in 13 starts with $70,512 banked.
Earlier, Woodmere Rose survived a first-over journey to take the other $13,000 Lady Slipper Gold division with Gary Chappell in the bike. The Barry Folland pupil, sent postward as the 2-1 second choice, got away fourth in the five-horse field as longshot Waterside Kicker (Hilliard Graves) claimed the lead from the inside post. After a :30.3 first quarter, Chappell moved his charge to the outside and began advancing through stations of 1:01 and 1:32.1. Woodmere Rose pulled ahead of the pacesetter at the top of the lane and then kicked away by five lengths for the 2:02.2 score. Waterside Kicker stayed for second with favourite J J Solara (Clare MacDonald) finishing third off a pocket trip.
The winning Western Success-Blue Violet filly, who was a $1,400 Atlantic Classic yearling sale purchase, has won half of her 10 starts earning $12,355 for Folland and partner Roger Wall of Kensington, P.E.I.
In the $10,500 Grassroots division, favourite R Es Miss Jen and Jason Hughes advanced from last to first by three-quarters and dashed home to prevail in 2:01.4 by nine lengths. Blaine McKenna trains and co-owns the N Xample-R Es Jen filly, who is now three-for-eight this year, with Harold Culleton of Ellerslie, P.E.I.
A pair of $11,000 Joe O'Brien Memorial Gold divisions for two-year-old colt pacers were also featured Saturday afternoon at the Charlottetown half-miler
In the first event, favourite Goin Large and Darren Crowe battled Comebacks Sir Tax (Brian MacPhee) for the lead to the opening quarter in :29.1 before pulling ahead and laying down splits of 1:00.2 and 1:30. With Dr Alexander B (Shane Bernard) looming from first-over, Goin Large kicked into high gear in the stretch and used a :29.1 final frame to leap away by four and a quarter lengths. The 1:59.1 clocking was a new mark for the bay. Dr Alexander B and Woodmere Jethro (Ken Murphy) finished second and third.
The Kickin Horse Stable of Stratford, P.E.I owns the winner of four races in 14 starts and $29,187.
Chappell returned to the winner’s circle after guiding Mr Salming to victory in the second Gold division for the boys. The favoured Coastocoast Yankee-First To Fly colt got away third while Ringmaster (Brian MacPhee) put up the first quarter in :30-seconds. From there, Mr Salming moved first-up with his stablemate Island Redemption (Gilles Barrieau) following his cover to the 1:01.3 half-mile marker. As the field raced to three-quarters in 1:31.1, Island Redemption angled three-wide and threatened Ringmater’s lead, but the pacesetter dug in down the stretch. Mr Salming also unleashed a strong final quarter of :29.1, which was enough to send him to the lead in deep stretch and claim the win in 2:00.3 by a length. Ringmaster was second and Fitelle (Kenny Arsenault) came on for third.
Purchased for $8,500 at the Atlantic Classic sale by Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I., Mr Salming has recorded five wins, three seconds and a third in 10 starts earning $31,881. He is trained by Gilles Barrieau.
In the lone $9,500 Grassroots division, Benny Rabbit and trainer/driver Marc Campbell pulled off a 30-1 upset. The Benvolio Hanover-Da Bunny colt stopped the clock in 2:02.1 winning by two and a quarter lengths for local owner Hilliard Graves.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.