Merigo Magic, elevating to the Preferred ranks following back-to-back wins in conditioned events, took flight four-wide on the last turn and swept to a three-length victory on Tuesday, June 16 at Summerside Raceway.

The Adam Merner-trained and -driven five-year-old captured the $6,250 Preferred Pace in Race 12 of the 13-dash program, stopping the clock in 1:55 for owners Mike May, Herman McQuaid and Derrick Cameron of Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Merner slotted him in fourth entering the first turn while Doc Awesome (Paul Langille) pushed to the fore with :26.4 speed to the quarter. After an actionless second panel to the :56.1 half, the middle three horses of the five-horse field shifted to the outside, led by House Edge Hanover (Jason Hughes) followed by Sauble Attack (Ken Murphy) and Merigo Magic. They fanned out past three-quarters in 1:26 and raced four-across around the last bend, with Merigo Magic stacked widest. As they came off the turn, Merigo Magic went into overdrive and fired clear by three lengths for the victory. Sauble Attack was next best coming home, edging out Louie The Great (Corey MacPherson) for second.

Merigo Magic has been razor-sharp since returning to the races on May 30, winning three straight starts. The son of Tobago Cays-Meridian Magic is now three-for-five this season and has bolstered his career record to 24-for-56 with $235,450 in earnings. He paid $3.70 to win.

Steamboat Springs ($2.40) was a narrow winner in the 11th race for trainer-driver Merner as he prevailed by a head in 1:56. The four-year-old Sweet Lou-Hedgie Blue Chip gelding is owned by Jonathan Lajoie and Mario Lajoie of  Sainte-Antoine, N.B.

Tahoe Seelster ($2.40) got up by in 1:55.2 in Race 13 to close out the program and a driving triple for Merner. Tom Weatherbie handles the training duties on the three-year-old Century Farroh-Thewonderouswendy colt, owned by Wayne McGean of Sydney Mines, N.S.

Saulsbrook Fancy ($3.30) won the third race in 1:58.1 for Corey MacPherson and trainer Chris Mackay. The three-year-old daughter of Somewhere Fancy-Line In The Sand was 1-1/4 lengths the best for owners Jordan MacKay of French River, P.E.I. and John Mehlenbacher of Oakville, Ont. The five-year-old Source Of Pride-Howmac Impeccable gelding Howmac Exclusive ($4.50) won the seventh race by two lengths in 1:55.4 for driver MacPherson and trainer Leslie Waite of Charlottetown, who shares ownership with Leith Waite of Summerside, P.E.I. and James Gorman of South Melville, P.E.I. The MacPherson driving triple was completed in the eighth race as Sectionline Flame ($5.60) won in 1:57.1 for trainer George Rennison. The four-year-old Catch The Fire-Sectionline Aqua mare scored by a quarter-length for owners Rennison Racing Inc. of Truro, N.S., Nicholas Flemming and Ian MacDonald of Lower Sackville, N.S. and Basil Sherry of Beaver Bank. N.S.

Nofool Tobago ($42.10) delivered the upset of the evening in Race 10 as Ryan Desroche guided the Garth Cole-trained mare to a 2-1/4-length, 1:56.3 victory. Cole, of Kensington, P.E.I., owns the five-year-old Tobago Cays-Woodmere No Fool mare.

Live racing continues at Red Shores Charlottetown on Thursday at 6 p.m.

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

(Red Shores & Standardbred Canada)