The win streak continued for undefeated three-year-old trotter Irish Ray, this time in track record fashion on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 6) in Canada’s oldest Standardbred stakes race, the P.E.I. Colt Stakes, at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
With trainer Marc Campbell sick and off all 14 of his afternoon drives, Gilles Barrieau jumped in the bike behind Irish Ray and sent the Muscle Through It gelding right down the road in a $12,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes three-year-old colt trotting division to a 1:57.4 lifetime-best performance for owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston, P.E.I. The win was number 14 of the trotter’s career from as many starts and lowered the former 1:59.1 three-year-old trotting gelding track record set by Waiting On A Woman in 2011 as well as the overall three-year-old trotting standard of 1:58.3 belonging to Tequila Tuesday from a 2020 race.
Campbell had two wins as a trainer on the day with Gettin Salty winning a $12,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes three-year-old filly trot division in 2:00.4 in line to Jason Hughes for owner Blayne White of Pinette, P.E.I.
Good Omen had the quickest steps on the day, winning a $13,500 two-year-old pacing colt Gold division in 1:55.2 for trainer/driver Paul Langille and owners Ellie Driscoll and Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow, N.S. The mile tied Woodmere Stealdeal’s two-year-old track record for male pacers set in 2020.
Langille tripled up on the day as a trainer/driver, winning with A Girl Named Tom (2:01.2) in a $5,700 two-year-old pacing filly Grassroots division and with Dusty Lane Tito (1:58.3) in a $6,750 two-year-old pacing colt Grassroots division.
Joe Baxter doubled up as a trainer winning back-to-back races with Little Leroy (1:57.4) in a rookie colt Grassroots split with Corey MacPherson driving as well as with filly Woodmere Luna (2:01.3) with Ken Murphy in the seat.
Murphy (pictured above) went right back out and won the next race, a Grassroots division for two-year-old rookie pacers, with Mr Andreychuk from his father Cliff Murphy’s stable in 2:01.4 for the Harrington, P.E.I. driver’s 1,000th career driving victory.
Another two-year-old Grassroots pacing colt division went to Howmac General (1:59.2) with Patrick Shepherd in the bike for trainer Earl Watts while a pair of filly splits were won by Windemere Evaline (2:00) for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald and High Roller (1:59) with Adam Merner driving for conditioner Melissa Rennie.
Tobins Chester remains undefeated in his career as a he won a $13,500 two-year-old colt Gold division in 1:58.1 for trainer/driver Hughes and owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. The Shanghai Phil colt has won all four of his career outings.
The $11,400 P.E.I. Colt Stakes two-year-old pacing filly Gold divisions were won by Goodmorning Nova (1:57.3) for driver Barrieau and trainer Duane MacEachern, Saulsbrook Feisty (1:58.4) in line to David Dowling for trainer Carrie Saunders and Chip Of Evil (1:58.1) from the Ed Doucette barn with MacPherson supplying the steer.
Gettin Tipsy was upset bound in her $12,100 P.E.I. Colt Stakes two-year-old trot filly division, winning at 12-1 odds in 2:04.1 for trainer/driver Mike McGuigan and owner Jamie Whalen of Avondale, P.E.I.
Countyline Babe was the best in the lone $12,100 two-year-old trot division in 2:03.1 for driver Myles Heffernan Sr., trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., and owner Jackie Heffernan of Summerville, P.E.I.
Jessiejesorjessica won the $4,600 Island Ocean Trot Mares Series leg, presented by Burkie By The Bay Stable, in 1:57.3 with Dowling in the seat for trainer Jennifer Doyle.
Live harness racing continues Monday evening with a rescheduled program at Red Shores Charlottetown at 6 p.m., followed by a Tuesday evening presentation at Red Shores Summerside starting at 6 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)