The opening leg of the Alpine Claiming Series kicked off on Thursday at the Charlottetown Driving Park, with three divisions on tap for the ladies and four for the boys

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Lady Mccardle captured her $1,500 division in 1:59.3 to kick things off for the distaffers. She rallied out of the pocket to win by a head for the tandem of driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Sebastien Giroux. Les Ecuries Giroux Inc of L’Ange Guardien, QC owns the five-year-old daughter of Mcardle.

Snortin Three was treated to a second-over trip in the second division, and that was more than enough to land the seven-year-old daughter of Drop Off in the winner’s circle. With Jason Hughes at the controls for trainer Jason Collings, the mare stepped home to win in 1:59.2. It was her first triumph of the season in 10 trips postward for owner Tommy Collings of Mount Stewart, PEI.

Paid In Silver was victorious for the second week-in-a-row thanks to her 2:01.3 tally in the final division for the mares. Mike Stevenson circle the field with the Glen MacKay-trained four-year-old daughter of Astreos. Frank and Melissa Banks of Summerside, PEI share ownership on the eight-time winner.

Indy Seelster pulled off a 7-1 upset in the first division for the boys. The nine-year-old son of Camluck stopped the clock in 1:58 in his $1,500 split after rallying to the 1-1/2 length triumph for the tandem of driver Brian MacPhee and trainer Donald Sweet, who co-owns the gelding with Blair Sweet of O’Leary, PEI.

Ride The Lightning went to the front and didn’t look back en route to taking his assignment in 1:59.2 for the team of driver Kenny Arsenault and owner/trainer Walter Walker of Inverness, NS. The five-year-old son of Western Paradise, who was sent off as the 8-5 favourite, extended his winning streak to four-in-a-row in the process.

Cyclone Duharas rallied from out of the clouds to take his $1,500 division in a time of 2:00 for driver Mike Stevenson and co-owner/trainer Andrew Moore. The margin of victory was a head for the six-year-old son of Pearl River Matt, who is now a five-time winner this year. Allan Moore shares ownership on the 14-time winner.

To view Thursday’s results, click here.