Campbell, Merner Star In P.E.I. Stakes Doubleheader
Drivers Marc Campbell and Adam Merner had the hot hands on a mega-stakes Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Campbell had the hottest hands of the day with six winners overall, while Merner had five wins during the 29-dash doubleheader including four P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold divisions throughout the day.
Merner's first win was with Lady Hess from the Jamie Smith stable in her $18,300 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies on the afternoon program in a 13-length romp of 1:56.3 for owner Groupof7 Stable. Jafetica (Myles Heffernan Sr.) was second with My Happy Place (Gilles Barrieau) third.
The Gold victories continued for Merner on the night card winning with Downtown Tonight in a $18,100 sophomore filly dash over Chip Of Evil (Corey MacPherson) and Galway Girl (Marc Campbell) in 1:56.1. It was one of three wins on the day for trainer Tommy Weatherbie, who conditions the daughter of Shanghai Phil for owners Cam and Gordon MacPhee.
Merigo Magic landed on top of his $17,720 P.E.I. Colt Stakes three-year-old pacing colt Gold dash as the heavy favourite in a 1:54.3 clocking for Merner and Melissa Rennie, who trained two winners, and owners Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron and Ian Walker. Jack Boswall (Marc Campbell) was second best ahead of Check Your Chip (Heffernan Sr.).
Miss Dutton was another Merner-driven Gold winner from the Kuri White barn in 1:56.4 in her $18,100 P.E.I. Colt Stakes three-year-old pacing filly division for owner Shoulda Been Onabeach Stable, over Miss Wicked (MacPherson) and Starship Beauty (David Dowling). It was one of two wins for trainer White on the day.
Marc Campbell's six winners included a win in a $20,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes two-year-old pacing colt Gold division for tripled-up trainer Landon Campbell with Phil My Beer (pictured above) over a stubborn One Wicked Man (Kenny Arsenault) in 1:58.2. Brady Doyle co-owns the Shanghai Phil colt with Ryan MacLeod, Kent MacDonald and Brent Campbell.
Another Gold winner for Marc Campbell, Muchtooyoungforyou landed on top of a $18,300 P.E.I. Colt Stakes division in 2:00.4 for two-year-old pacing fillies ahead of Howmac Maleficent (Ken Murphy) and Woodmere Flojo (Merner). Earl Watts, who doubled up on the day, trains the Flameproof Hanover filly for owners Windemere Farms, River Valley Management and Matt Burke.
Malevolent was redemption bound in the other $20,000 rookie colt Gold division with Prince Malicious (Jason Hughes) second and Abiding Art (Arsenault) completing the triactor in 1:56.2. Paul Langille trains and drives the Malicious colt for owners Debbie Francis and Rosanne Langille.
Jackies Boy (Heffernan Sr.) easily handled his foes in his $17,720 sophomore pacing colt Gold division in 1:54.1 for owner/trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., over Allaboutthecash (Barrieau) and Pauls Crown (Marc Campbell).
Tobins Chester was a popular winner in a $17,720 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold division for three-year-old pacing colts in 1:54.1 as one of five wins for driver Jason Hughes and one of two victories for trainer Ashley Gamester. Little Leroy (Merner) nabbed second with Reassurance (MacPherson) third. Donald MacRae owns the winning son of Shanghai Phil.
First Filly Chip provided a mild upset in her $18,100 P.E.I. Colt Stakes three-year-old pacing filly Gold contest in a 1:56 clocking over Fern Hill Indigo (Brodie MacPhee) and Eenymeenyminymoe (Hughes). White trains the Arthur Blue Chip lass for East Coast Captains.
The $3,250 divisions of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series, presented by Standardbred Canada, were won by Shesonebadmomma (Barrieau) in 1:55 for trainer Ron Matheson and Pasta Momma (Marc Campbell) in 1:54 from the Landon Campbell barn.
Bee Two Bee stormed home to win a $8,500 division of the Reliable Motors Richard Campbell Memorial Invitational for aged pacers in a 1:52.4 clocking for driver Hughes, trainer Gamester and owners Donald MacRae and Blair MacLauchlan.
Wind Blown was the boss in the other $8,500 Richard Campbell Invitational split in 1:53 for driver MacPherson, trainer Phil Sizer and owners Doug Polley Jr., and Doug Polley Sr.
Live harness racing continues on Monday evening at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)