A new track record was established and the Merner barn was perfect as the Thursday, July 10 program lit up Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The biggest fireworks on 13-dash card came in the evening's 11th race when Fight Song reset the overall trotting standard in a breathtaking performance.

Fight Song ($6.30) and driver Jason Hughes were serious in the $4,000 Open Trot heading to the lead and fronting the field through splits of :29 and :57.4. The half-mile marker was when the streaking Buckhead Ridge (Driven by Gilles Barrieau) moved from fifth and began his assault first-over to challenge at three-quarters of 1:27.2. Fight Song continued to lead with Buckhead Ridge ducking in the two-hole and never getting past the front-runner’s wheel in the stretch to have his win streak snapped at seven. Fight Song hit the wire on top by two-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:55.3 to break Cheeky Little Minx’s overall track trotting record of 1:55.4. Buckhead Ridge stayed for second with Ripped And Ready (Brett Clow) back in third. 

Ashley Gamester trains the son of Kadabra for owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. Owner MacRae and driver Hughes also have a claim to the overall track pacing record, as Bee Two Bee co-owns the record of 1:50.1.

Badgirl Bridgette ($2.40) took the $3,500 pacing feature in Race 12 with Hughes orchestrating a sweep from the back to deny JM Sportsfan (Steven Shepherd) and Lady Devine (Ken Murphy) in 1:54.4. The win was a new lifetime record for the daughter of Stonebridge Terror, who is owned and trained by Bill Lanigan of Montague, P.E.I.

It was a perfect three-for-three night for the Adam Merner stable, who swept all of their entries, with all the fillies taking new personal best times. Woodmere Honeymoon ($2.20) won the fifth race in 1:55.3, Lady Llamrei ($3.40) was a 1:54.2 winner in the seventh and Mia ($11.10) was the best in the finale with a 1:56.3 performance. Merner also had catch driving wins with Miss Maddie P ($8.10) for trainer Todd Walsh in 1:56.4 and Listen Linda Lou ($3.00) from the Carson Wilkie barn in 1:58.3 for a five-win night in the race bike.

The Energy & Mines Ministers’ Conference Pace in race 10 had Lorne Valley Barb ($6.90) get a slick steer from trainer-driver Myles Heffernan Jr., en route to a 1:57.3 victory for owner Barry MacLeod of Cardigan, P.E.I.

Corey MacPherson recorded a driving triple on the card.

Live harness racing continues Saturday, July 12 at Red Shores Charlottetown with a 4 p.m. (EDT) first post time.

To view Thursday's results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.

(with files from Red Shores)