Saulsbrook Balance earned bragging rights Saturday afternoon thanks to his front end score in the featured $1,400 Open Trot at Charlottetown Driving Park

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Regular reinsman Willie Murphy shot the odds-on favourite to the front from Post 7 and maintained a comfortable two length lead through panels of :29.2 and 1:01, but Saulsbrook Balance's Open rivals were not about to let him scoop up the win that easily.

As the field headed to three-quarters in 1:32.2 the first-over Caliban Hanover (Ronnie Gass) moved within a quarter-length of the pacesetter and continued to apply pressure down the lane. Saulsbrook Balance dug deep and managed to grab the win just in time as Hopedale Last Bill (Joey Pineau) popped the pocket and nearly nipped him at the wire. Saulsbrook Balance’s winning time was 2:02.2 with Hopedale Last Bill finishing second by a head and Caliban Hanover a half length back in third.

Cynthia MacDonald trains and owns the winning son of Nikes Image-Animated Lady with Tanya MacKinnon of Souris, P.E.I. The victory was Saulsbook Balance’s eighth in 30 tries this season and pushed his earnings to $10,700. The four-year-old now boasts 24 wins on his lifetime record and $63,282 in earnings.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.