Brookdale Johnny landed the knockout blow in a thrilling finish to the $5,500 Preferred 1 Pace on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

In the feature event, Brookdale Johnny ($48) rallied to upend the three-horse Ron Matheson brigade in 1:55.4. Driver Paul Langille positioned the Rockin In Heaven-Brookdale Gia gelding mid-pack to the quarter in :27.3, then slid him out second-over through the middle fractions of :57.4 and 1:27. Coming off cover on the final turn, the gelding charged to nail the first-over T H Boomtown (David Dowling) by a half-length with fellow Matheson trainees House Edge Hanover (Ken Murphy) and Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) third and fourth, respectively. 

Phil Sizer trains the winning five-year-old for owners Doug Polley Sr., and Doug Polley Jr., of Amherst, N.S. Brookdale Johnny is now 24-for-117 lifetime with $164,925 in earnings.

Sizer doubled on the day winning, the fifth race with Brookdale George ($13.30) in 1:57.2 with David Dowling at the lines.

Buddysnvirgins ($6.20) captured the $6,000 first Joe & Steven MacRae Memorial Fall Series division in 2:01, using a ground-saving journey for driver Gilles Barrieau to track down tempo-setter Bold N Bad (Brett Clow) in the final strides for trainer Darrell Neill. Century Invictus (Norris Rogers) was third. The winner, an eight-year-old son of Always A Virgin-Blue Starlett, is owned by Ryan and Darrell Neill of Winsloe, P.E.I.

Five Star Dragon ($5.60) secured the first of the two $7,000 MacRae splits in the fourth race for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Vaughan Doyle, just holding off a charging Rosiesmightymoe (Barrieau) in 1:59.1. Spack Jarrow (Jason Hughes) completed the triactor. Chris Kelly of Calgary, Alta. owns Five Star Dragon, a five-year-old Custard The Dragon-Best Promise As stallion.

Dylan Sam ($10.60) delivered in the other $7,000 MacRae division in Race 7, pacing home strong in 1:59.1 for driver Brady Sweet and conditioner Allan Gregory. Im Hungry (Langille) held off Starship Destiny (Kyle Desroche) for place. The winner, a nine-year-old Sweet Lou-Frankies Dream gelding, is owned by Gregory of Charlottetown, P.E.I. and Tyson MacDonald of Hazelbrook, P.E.I.

Doctor Grenfell ($76.10) upset in the sixth race, a conditioned pace, storming home off cover to win in 1:58.2 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Nicholas Oakes. He collared late leader Woodmere Sinatra (Dowling) in the final strides, keying massive exotics payouts. The Oakes Stable had another win as Brigus ($5.10) set the tone early in the opener with driver Barrieau to win by four lengths in 1:56.4.

Murphy tripled as a driver, winning with All Bettor ($4.60) in 2:00.3 in Race 8 and Redland Sampson ($11) in 2:01.4, both for his father, conditioner Clifford Murphy.

Neptune Seelster ($17.80) delivered a sharp performance to take the P.E.I.S.H.O.A. dash in Race 11 in 1:58 for driver Adam Merner and trainer Michael Gallant.

Another upset came in Race 12 as Blue Moose ($19.40) turned back all challengers in 1:58.1 for veteran horseman Harold Shepherd, who also did the driving.

In the 14th-race finale, High Praise ($3.40) completed his fourth-straight victory with a 1:56 mile for trainer Jennifer Doyle and driver Dowling.

Live racing continues on Tuesday 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)