Driver Corey MacPherson capitalized late with four consecutive on-the-board finishes to capture the annual Paul MacDonald Drivers’ Championship on Horsepersons’ Day at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The event was sponsored by the Prince Edward Island Standardbred Horseowners' Association.
Now known as ‘The Tiger’, MacPherson struck the Red Shores’ winner’s circle twice in the championship, first with Powerful Women and then an outrageous Jetta Flys in 1:56.4.
The ‘Blue Knight’ Jason Hughes was the runner-up in the event scoring a driving hat trick on the card, including two winners in the annual competition.
The ‘Maritime Magic Man’ Gilles Barrieau made a late surge to try and knock of a pair of Island boys. He won the final two heats of the event but it wasn’t enough to catch MacPherson and Hughes.
It was a bounce back day for the unanimous Aged Pacer of the Year in the Maritimes, D Gs Camme.
With is regular pilot, Barrieau back in the sulky, the son of Blissful Hall rolled straight the boiler from post 6 and was a going away winner in 1:56 taking the Chappell Construction Pace. The win gave Barrieau the hat trick on the day and training double for Red Shores’ top trainer Jackie Matheson, who scored with newcomer Four Corners.
The storylines were endless on the Saturday afternoon card, veteran driver Gary Chappell enjoyed a marvelous day at the office cashing in on a grand slam including a winner from his own stable in Willi Ray.
The ‘Campbell Watch’ was in full affect as well, heading into the card only five wins away from breaking his record for most wins in a single season at Red Shores, Marc Campbell cashed in with a hat trick moving him just two wins away from not only the record but 200 driving wins in the Maritimes on the 2016 season - a feat that has not been accomplished since 2008.
(Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park)
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park .