Brookdale Johnny was successful in his return to top-level company as he motored late to win the $4,700 Preferred 2 Pace at Summerside Raceway on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

As three horses fired into turn one, Paul Langille slid Brookdale Johnny in behind them into fourth with Sauble Attack (Ken Murphy) legging it out to take the lead from post five. The five-horse field stayed single file through middle fractions of :58 and 1:26.2 until Starship Glyde (Brodie MacPhee) looked to the outside at three-quarters.

He quickly moved back to the pylons as he treaded water, releasing Brookdale Johnny, who had been on his back, on the final turn. Brookdale Johnny hit high gear on the bend, then rallied down the stretch to pass Sauble Attack and Doc Awesome (Corey MacPherson) and win by a half-length in 1:55. Sauble Attack was second, followed by Doc Awesome.

Brookdale Johnny ($4.30) has won two straight starts and eight this year in 31 appearances for Doug Polley Jr. and Doug Polley Sr. of Amherst, N.S. Phil Sizer trains the five-year-old son of Rockin In Heaven-Brookdale Gia, who has now earned $153,452 and won 20 times in 110 starts.

Trainer Tammy Collings, in the midst of a career season, won with all four starters on the 14-race program to improve her yearly tally to 30. Her victorious pupils were Howmac Maximus ($2.40), Brokeandoutofgas ($2.70), Gascoigne A C ($3.50) and Silver Spirit ($3). 

With the grand slam, she moved up to third in the trainers’ standings, now four wins behind leader Earl Watts. The third-year conditioner is winning at a 23.3 per cent clip this year.

All four of her winning trainees were driven by Austin Sorrie, Canada's leading driver in wins, who made the trip from Ontario to his native Prince Edward Island.

The P.E.I. Matinee Finals had three divisions on the program. Tyler Neill took the championship, winning the A division with Buddysnvirgins in 2:01.1. Arnoldthepaperboy (2:04.1) won the B division for owner/driver Bill MacKay Sr., and the C division went to Porthill Felix (2:01.4) with Dana Sweet driving for owner Marvyn Webster. Sorrie presented the P.E.I Matinee Championship trophy to Neill in the winner's circle.

Nofool Tobago ($4.80) won the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Pace in race four for driver Langille and owner/trainer Garth Cole in a 2:01 clocking.

To view Tuesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Summerside Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada with files from Red Shores; photo of Brookdale Johnny winning on July 29)