A former North American dash leading trainer, Colin Johnson made his East Coast presence well felt Saturday (Jan. 22) with a four-bagger at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The Johnson troops were razor sharp on the afternoon card as the stable scored four wins and a pair of seconds from six starters all with David Dowling in the race bike. The action got underway in Race 4 for the Village Green, P.E.I., trainer with Ill Tell Me Ma (2:00.3) winning from off-the-pace, followed by a front-end win with Oakwood Coral Ir (2:00.3) in Race 6, then a score with Ladylike (1:59.2) in Race 9 and a Race 12 closer as Moonwriter (1:58) delivered as the heavy favourite. The quadruple puts Johnson to the top of the Red Shores training standings with five wins on the year, overtaking opening card leader Earl Watts who now sits second with four wins.
Dowling had five wins on the day with newcomer Bludhaven winning Race 8 in 2:00.3 from his own Springvale stable.
Sock It Away found the winner’s circle for the fifth straight time in the race 11 preferred pace for $3,200. Marc Campbell drove the Kevin MacLean trainee for owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford, as Sock It Away got away last in the compact field of five and overtook pacersetter Mikey Camden (Driven by Dowling) in the final quarter to win by two-lengths in 1:56.3. Third went to Mc Pat (Gilles Barrieau).
Kenny Arsenault landed on the wire on top in two dashes on the day from his own barn to earn win number 3,300 of the Charlottetown reinsman’s driving career. Arsenault’s wins came with the David Kent owned duo of Akrotiri (2:05.1) and Psili Ammos (2:02.4) and Red Shores recognized Arsenault's personal milestone.
Akrotiri after winning for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault. Ken's son Michael is at the head of the horse, with Lee Drake presenting
Live harness racing is set to continue Jan. 29 at Red Shores Charlottetown for the final scheduled card of the Winter Meet. Total handle was $56,404 with no live attendees in accordance with provincial health guidelines. To view the results from Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)
He will have to drive Time…
He will have to drive Time To Dance, as he is also the trainer.
When racing resumes at…
When racing resumes at Charlottetown in May, Time To Dance, the best older pacer in Maritime Canada, will begin his 2022 campaign, and Marc Campbell will have a huge decision to make: Time To Dance and Sock It away will most likely be racing against each other nearly every week. Which horse will Marc choose to drive??