All Turain won his fifth race in a row with a dazzling 1:54.2 effort in the second leg of the Island Pacing Championship Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Brodie MacPhee did the driving for All Turain's owners Trevor and Lee Hicken. It was MacPhee’s third trip to the winner’s circle on the card. Touch Of Lightning finished second with Lucky Encounter rounding out the top three.
Big League, owned and trained by Jonah Moase, recorded his 11th win of the year when he captured the first $3,500 division of the the Island Pacing Championship. The mile was clocked in 1:56 for driver Corey MacPherson. Wild Dragon held on for second while Cambest Kisser finished third.
The Island Pacing Championship final, presented by Meridian Farms, is Sunday October 13 during the Atlantic Breeders Crown.
The Saturday card also showcased two-year-old fillies in the Lady Slipper Stakes. The $20,200 Gold division went to Saulsbrook Alana, who equalled the divisional track record with a 1:56.1 score for her fifth win in a row. Marc Campbell did the driving for owner Reg MacPherson and trainer Kevin MacLean. Elm Grove Inarush battled hard for second while Sea Anna Win grabbed the show spot.
Shindeagan, with trainer Danny Romo driving for owners Thomas Hawco Jr. and George Della Valle, came flying late to capture the $5,600 opening division of the Lady Slipper Grassroots in a new lifetime-best clocking of 1:59 flat while Mandy M Mac made her winning debut for owner William Andrew and trainer Blaine McKenna. Walter Cheverie, who is teaming up with Noonan Petroleum in the Drive for Charity event to raise money for the Prince County Hospital Foundation, did the driving. Acton Royal Force put up a great performance for trainer/driver Bernard McCallum to score her first win in 2:00.3. She is owned by Debbie Gregory and Peter Francis.
The two-year-old colts made their appearance in the Joe O’Brien Memorial Stakes. Alfred Barrieau and Michael Clinton's Settlement Request and Gilles Barrieau took the first $10,000 Gold in 2:00 flat. The colt turned away JJ Laser and Dumas Walker for the victory.
James Pound's homebred Island Gigolo secured the top spot in the second O’Brien Gold split for MacPhee and trainer Tom Weatherbie. The time of the mile was 1:59.2, a personal best. Rebelseven was second with Dusty Lane Oliver completing the triactor.
In the $5,000 Grassroots divisions of the O’Brien stakes, Heroes Never Die used good gate speed and a brave stretch drive to notch his second win in a row in 2:02.3 for Foxyhall Racing Stable and trainer/driver Jason Hughes. Mick and Chris Neville's Elm Grove Intrepid recorded his third win of the season in his O’Brien division, stopping the timer in 1:59.3 for MacPhee and trainer Jackie Matheson while Post Haste and Angelo Camilli also took home an O’Brien cooler, winning for the third time in 2:02.1.
Another highlight on the program was the Mr. and Mrs. Bryson Pace. The newlyweds were trackside to present the winning cooler to Isleofpalms and Hughes. Stephen Quinn trains the four-year-old mare for Westley Patriquin and Paul Merlin. The groom even selected the horse to win in a pre-race interview. Hughes had a driving triple on the night.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)