Ladner, Maritime Breeders In The Books
Big Surf won the Cecil Ladner Memorial Final on a Saturday card at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park that also featured a pair of Maritime Breeders Finals.
Marc Campbell did the driving on Big Surf for Burkie By The Bay Stable and Perry Burke of Quebec as the son of Somebeachsomewhere scorched the city oval in 1:53 for trainer Trevor Hicken, turning back D Gs Camme (Gilles Barrieau) while Hicken stable-mate All Turain completed the triactor. Si Semalu was fourth with Motorino fifth.
Campbell enjoyed another exciting victory taking the $19,180 Maritime Breeders Final for three-year-old pacing colts in the Doug Harkness Memorial with Proven Desire in 1:56. The colt, owned by Blair Hansen, Meghan MacDonald and John Thomas, notched his third win of 2015. Dixieland Band was second with JJ Romeo third.
Jann Down and Barrieau were able to maneuver around Woodmere Dancenart, who made a break after the field went by the quarter, to go on to claim the rich $24,360 Maritime Breeders final for three-year-old fillies named in honour of Ken Starratt. The filly, who is owned and bred by Downey Stables of N.B. and trained by Steve Mason, took a new mark of 1:58.1. Elm Grove Joanette was the runner-up while Miss Oromocto closed for the show ticket.
In other action, Pleasure Girls, with Corey MacPherson driving, won the Open Trot in 2:00.1 for owner Shelley Gass. The winning connections were presented with the breedingtrotters.com cooler for the victory.
Campbell had a grand-slam with four winners while Barrieau recorded a driving hat-trick on the 13 dash program.
For full results of Saturday's card of harness racing at Red Shores Charlottetown, click the following link: Saturday Results - Red Shores Charlottetown.
(with files from Red Shores)