Big Day For Meridian In Island Breeders
The hardware was handed out Saturday in the Island Breeders Finals at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Breeder Bill Andrew of Meridian Farms fame had three winners on the stakes filled afternoon. Tyne Valley, trained and co-owned by Bill Roloson, took the two-year-old trot division in 2:06.1 in rein to Mike Stevenson, Seanchai, owned by Buntainwood Farm, captured the three-year-old trot final in 2:05 for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Nicholas Oakes while Dixieland Band was victorious in 1:58.2 in the two-year-old pacing colt final for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Kevin MacLean. Dixieland Band closed the season with eight wins from 11 starts for owners Reg MacPherson and David and Aaron MacKenzie. Meridian Farms' Brian Andrew was trackside for the presentations.
The other winners in the Island Breeders Finals included Lovineveryminute in the three-year-old pacing filly category for trainer Earl Watts, breeder and co-owner River Valley Management, and driver Kenny Arsenault in a snappy 1:58.3.
James Pound's homebred Island Gigolo scored in the three-year-old pacing colt final in 2:01.1 with Hughes in the sulky for trainer Tom Weatherbie.
The weather played a major factor in the Island Breeders for two-year-old pacing fillies, causing the field to be scratched down to four when the other starters were stranded on the New Brunswick side of the Confederation Bridge due to restrictions caused by high winds. Racing officials declared it a non-wagering event. Woodmere Dancenart, under the command of trainer/driver Clare MacDonald, took the top purse prize with a 2:01.4 winning effort for owners Morah Kerr and Phonsie MacEachern. The filly was bred by the late Wally Wood. Jann Down, Elm Grove Joanette and Ubettowin completed the order of finish.
In other action, Abundaspin captured the Open Trot for the driver and trainer team of Steven and Harold Shepherd, and owner Mikaela Lustic.
Forever Paradise gave trainer MacLean his second winner of the day when the MacPherson-owned pacer won the top pacing class in 1:58 flat with Marc Campbell aboard.
Van Zant hit the wire first in the Joe Fogerty Memorial for Ron Matheson and his co-owner Tom Clark. Jackie Matheson is the trainer.
A Fiesty X Ample and driver/trainer Mark Bradley gave owner Bill Andrew another top-place finish in the Martina Doyle 92nd Birthday Pace.
Hughes and Campbell notched driving doubles on the program and remain tied in the driver standings in Charlottetown with 104 victories each.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)