Harold Shepherd was crowned the driving champion in the annual driver's challenge Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park

. The event was presented by the PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association.

Shepherd closed out the day with 44 points, two points ahead of runner-up Kenny Arsenault (42). Gary Chappell was third with 38.

Chappell got the competition started with a win aboard Tracee N with Hooters Hanover and Brian MacPhee taking the second leg in gate-to-wire fashion. Shepherd clicked with Acesnassets in the third division while Shane Bernard made his first trip to the winner's circle with Dipolmate Girl at the half way mark of the competition. MacPhee, Arsenault, Marc Campbell, Ron Matheson and Norman Myers continued to add pressure to the leader board.

Kaitlin Rose gave MacPhee the lead when they used a :29.4 closer to win the fifth division. Myers added to his point total with a victory on Smart Barney. Campbell got back into the mix when the Vernon River resident engineered a winning trip for newcomer Canco Pasco with only one leg to go. That set up an exciting finish with only five points separating the top five going into the final leg.

Chappell sent Jaguar Royal N off the engine to win the last leg over Arsenault and Aria Aria. Sheppard finished third with Gauloise Duharas to secure the six points needed to win the championship.

In other action, Pans O Silver, under the command of Brian MacPhee, won the afternoon feature in 2:01. The Alex MacPhee owned-trained pacer recorded his fifth win of the season in 29 starts. MacPhee had a driving triple on the card while Myers, Matheson, Chappell and 2009 driving champion Harold Shepherd recorded driving doubles.

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

(Harness Racing PEI)