MacPhee Doubles Up In O'Brien Memorial

Four divisions of the Joe O’Brien Memorial Grassroots highlighted the Saturday afternoon card at the Charlottetown Driving Park, and driver Brodie MacPhee celebrated a pair of stakes victories in the $4,600 events

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Windemere Royal and driver Simon Allard enjoyed a pocket trip behind Benny Rabbit, who threw down panels of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:28.4, in the opening division. Allard angled his charge off the rail at the head of the lane and out-kicked Benny Rabbit to get up for the final strides score in a career-best clocking of 1:57.3. Southview Samson was the third horse to cross the line.

The son of Royal Mattjesty-Allamerican Reach, who hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Earl Watts, is now 5-for-13 this season after an 0-for-1 rookie campaign.

Lucky In Love said “catch me if you can” in the second division of the Joe O’Brien Memorial Grassroots. Brodie MacPhee hustled the son of Camluck-Hugmeifyouloveme through fractions of :29.4, 1:00 and 1:30 before storming home in :28.2 to freeze the teletimer in 1:58.2. It was a new lifetime mark for the colt, who handily defeated Acton Money Maker and Dusty Lane Paco.

Thomas MacPhee trains the photogenic pacer for owner/breeder Doug MacPhee of Cornwall, PEI. The victory improved his 2010 record to 5-2-0 in just seven trips postward.

Busters Brother delivered in the third division even though he was interfered with in the late stages of the mile. The son of Western Success-Miss Papillon gave Brody MacPhee back-to-back divisions of the Joe O’Brien Memorial Grassroots thanks to his 1:59.3 score over In Cahoots and Marching Band.

Terrence Affleck trains the three-time winner for owner Daniel MacIsaac of Charlottetown, PEI.

Clay Mater went coast-to-coast in the final split for trainer/driver Mike Stevenson. The son of Largo-Ms Crawford County threw down panels of :28.1, :59.1 and 1:29.3 before rolling home in :29.2 for the 1:59 score. Acton My Way was next best and Langley Road was third.

Daniel Ross of Belfast, PEI holds the papers on the gelding who won for the fifth time this season in 12 tries.

Another noteworthy feat accomplished during the Saturday matinee was a maiden-breaking score for driver Tyler Moore. The 18-year-old son of Dr. Ian and Nancy Moore, who was making the seventh drive of his career, guided Beautys Spur to a 2:00.4 triumph in Race 3.

Moore, who trains the eight-year-old son of Kentucky Spur, co-owns the gelding with partner Krystle Gorrill of Charlottetown, PEI.

Dunmore Alpha trotted home in 2:01.1 to take the $1,500 Colonel Dan Invitational Trot for driver Henry Smallwood and owner/trainer Edward Smallwood of Strafford, PEI.

Gauloise Duharas went down the road to win the $3,000 Spud Island Classic Consolation for the tandem of driver Mike Stevenson and owner/trainer Frank Banks of Summerside, PEI. The eight-year-old mare paced the mile in 1:58.1.

The Sue Connection was second-placed-first in the $2,500 Alpine Claiming Series Consolation for horses and geldings. After getting interfered with in the late stages of the mile by Skole, who was the first to cross the line in 1:58.2, the eight-year-old son of A Stud Named Sue was awarded the win following the inquiry. Anthony MacDonald was aboard the Walter Walker trainee, who is owned by Kayla Anne Habicht of Inverness, NS.

PW Fiesty went all the way on the lead to win the Alpine Claiming Series Consolation for the fillies and mares in a time of 1:58.2. Owned and trained by Clair Sweet of O’Leary, PEI, the four-year-old Western Terror miss held on for the narrow score in 1:58.2 for driver Garry MacDonald.

To view Saturday afternoon’s results, click here.

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