The trotters took center stage Sunday at Red Shores Summerside as the Maritime Breeders Stakes eliminations continued and another Atlantic Breeders Crown champion returned back in the spotlight.
'Crown' champion Phantom Beau, with Kenny Arsenault in the bike, won the first $3,000 elimination for two-year-old trotters named in honour of Lea Bell. Arsenault did the driving for owner/breeder Peter Breau of Moncton, N.B. and trainer John Pineau. The Bo W colt held off Dusty Lane Galaxy (Gary Chappell) by a quarter-length in 2:06.2 with Hope Chest (Walter Cheverie) finishing three lengths behind in third.
Filly trotter Saulsbrook Pippa gave Pineau his second elimination win. Corey MacPherson steered him to a 2:05 front-end victory with Scarlet Macdream (Marc Campbell) and Villager (Brian MacPhee) rounding out the top three finishers over 10 lengths behind. Pineau co-owns the daughter of PJs Nabby with Myron Ford of Harrington, P.E.I.
The program also featured the Louis McIsaac Memorial Series for $5,000 claimers that are three and four-year-old non-winners of $10,000 lifetime. Ronnie Gass trainee Evalina, under the command of Corey MacPherson, claimed the first division of the McIsaac for Bill Andrew of Calgary, Alta. and Brian Andrew. of Milton Station, P.E.I. The time of the mile was 1:59.4. Charlottes Ace wired the field in the other McIsaac split for trainer/driver Marc Campbell and the Grayland Farm of Pugwash, N.S. The sophomore filly stopped the clock in 1:59.2.
The top class went to Every Day for driver Brian Andrew in 1:59.3. The Andrew family, who enjoyed a big day at the track with a winner in the McIsaac Memorial earlier on the card, own the six-year-old son of Western Terror. Pembroke Fella (Brian MacPhee) was second while Carrera Angel (Rocky Schurman) completed the triactor.
The fastest mile of the day was turned in by Bakardi Arti and Brodie MacPhee. They toured the Prince County oval is 1:58.3.
Kenny Arsenault had a driving triple of the day.
Horsemen paid tribute to late Cecil Stewart with the memorial horseshoe ceremony.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway
(With files from Red Shores)