Best Risque and Idealic Life kept their win streaks rolling on Saturday, Jan. 23 at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, taking their respective top-class assignments in rein to Corey MacPherson.
Best Risque won the $2,350 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace for the fifth straight week, crossing to command from the outside post six and laying down fractions of :29, 1:00.3 and 1:31.2 en route to the 2:00.4 triumph. Brian Ladner trains and co-owns the nine-year-old Cammibest mare with Lillian and Kevin Ladner. Outrageous Spirit and Ideal Space completed the top three finish order.
Idealic Life won for the seventh consecutive time since joining the Trevor Hicken stable. The 12-year-old Western Ideal gelding went from last to first in the $2,100 conditioned/optional $12,000 claiming event, taking the lead over My Lucky Killean past the :59.1 half-mile mark and pacing to a 1:57.2 triumph. The streaking veteran is owned by Perry, Luke and Robin Burke, along with Kent Livingston. Smiley Bayama came on for second over My Lucky Killean.
Marc Campbell recorded his 1,500th driving victory Saturday during the 13-race program. The two-time Gold Cup & Saucer champion reached the magic number aboard his own trainee Eagle Jolt, owned by Wilbur and Marie MacDonald, in the $1,900 seventh race. Campbell, who was surrounded by family and friends, was also greeted in the winner’s circle by Red Shores race manager Adam Walsh for a special trackside presentation marking the occasion. The time of the mile was 1:57.3.
Driver Ken Murphy enjoyed a driving triple on the program. Murphy opened the card with top honours aboard Im Driven for trainer Clarkie Smith and rallied Toad River to victory lane for Clifford Murphy. His hat-trick came in the closer with Likely To Win for conditioner Adam Merner in gate-to-wire fashion.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)