Driver Corey MacPherson tallied five victories on the 14-race program at Summerside Raceway on Wednesday, Sept. 30 to pull closer to the top of the sulky standings.
MacPherson started his five-win night in the opener aboard Sporty Spice ($27.90), who rallied to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00 for trainer-owner Sylvia Hall Andrews of Nanaimo, B.C.
The Cornwall, P.E.I. reinsman returned to the winner's circle in the seventh race with La Barbe ($3.90), who controlled the mile and drew away by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:58.3 for trainer Taylor Doyle. The gelding is owned by Vance Cameron of Summerside, P.E.I., Brenda MacInnis of Summerside and Lynn Whitlock of Pleasant Valley, P.E.I.
MacPherson then put together three straight victories later on the card, beginning with Saulsbrook Fancy ($5.40) in the 10th race. The Chris Mackay trainee controlled the mile en route to a 2:00.2 victory by 1-3/4 lengths for owners Jordan MacKay of French River, P.E.I. and John Mehlenbacher of Oakville, Ont.
MacPherson and MacKay struck again as Pyrenees Hanover ($3.90) went all the way to a one-length score in 1:56. The gelding is owned by Charles Gaudreault of Métis-sur-Mer, Que., Maxim Gaudreault of Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage, Que. and Daniel Gaudreault of Mont-Joli, Que.
Sharky ($4.90) completed the MacPherson five-bagger in the 12th race as he took command approaching three-quarters and won by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:57.3. Taylor Doyle trains the gelding and shares ownership with John McGuirk of Kensington, P.E.I.
MacPherson entered the 14-dash program with 39 victories on the season, eight behind leading driver Paul Langille. His five-win performance moved him to 44 victories to narrow the gap to three with racing continuing at the Prince County, P.E.I. oval into November. Langille remains on top with 47 victories while Marc Campbell sits third with 38.
Jason Hughes guided Twin B John B ($28.30) to a front-end 1:58.2 victory in the fifth race for the first part of a triple for trainer Chris Mackay. Twin B John B is owned by Charles and Maxim Gaudreault, along with Gabrielle St. Onge of Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage. MacKay has a 20-win haul this season and is closing in on his career high of 25 set last year.
The $6,900 Preferred 1 Pace in the 13th race went to Doc Awesome ($15.10) and driver Adam Merner in 1:55.1. The Darla MacEachern trainee sat fifth through :28.1, :57 and 1:25.4 fractions before unleashing a :28.2 final quarter to prevail by three-quarters of a length, with Gigis Dream (Jason Hughes) second over Brookdale Johnny (Ken Murphy).
MacEachern shares ownership of Doc Awesome with Allen Gaudet and Mike Cameron, all of Summerside. The winning six-year-old son of All Bets Off-Direct Macawesome is 15-for-96 lifetime with $70,000 in earnings.
Howmac Charger ($40.70) supplied the largest win price of the evening in the second race as Zach Conway guided the Paul Conway trainee to a 2:02 victory.
The P.E.I. Matinee Finals were also part of the Wednesday program with three classes contested.
Red Dirt Nella Bella and Tyler Neill captured the Class C final in 2:05.2 after fractions of :30.3, 1:01.2 and 1:32.3. Camco Karlie and Aubon Doucette finished second with Adkins Hanover and Cy Poirier third.
The Class B final, racing for the Province of P.E.I. Trophy, went to Woodmere Cheetah and Lucas Bailey in 2:03.3. The winning tandem cut fractions of :30.3, 1:00.1 and 1:31 before stopping the clock in 2:03.3. Legal Jargon and Tyler Neill were second while Highly Toxic and Paul Conway completed the top three.
Bailey doubled up in the P.E.I. Matinee Finals by winning the Class A final with Venus N Serena in 2:00. The mile featured fractions of :29.1, :59 and 1:30.2. Elm Grove Treasure and Tucker Wallace finished second with Buddys N Virgins and Christopher Neill third.
Live racing continues with a 13-race card on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown. Brokeandoutofgas will look to double up against a talented group of pacing mares in the Fillies and Mares Preferred 1 Pace for a $6,050 pot.
Gilles Barrieau will guide Brokeandoutofgas (3-1 morning line) from post six for trainer and owner Tammy Collings of Hazel Brook, P.E.I. The five-year-old daughter of Arthur Blue Chip-Onehotvett was a hard-charging winner in her latest assignment, capturing a $9,000 Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series division in 1:54 by a head over Rosetown Mary. The victory was her sixth of the season in 24 starts and 22nd lifetime in 85.
Badgirl Bridgette (7-2) is another top contender from post eight with Adam Merner in the seat for trainer-owner Bill Lanigan of Montague, P.E.I. The four-year-old daughter of Stonebridge Terror-Whatabadgirl was third by three-quarters of a length to Brokeandoutofgas last week and has five wins from 14 starts this season and 25 from 39 lifetime. Trumps Girl, the 5-2 morning-line choice, has post five for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Mike McGuigan after finishing fourth in that same contest. The five-year-old Always B Miki-Wind Damage Blues mare, owned by Tommy Collings of Mount Stewart, P.E.I., is six-for-25 this term and 15-for-83 lifetime.
The Post Time Picks likes Brokeandoutofgas on top of the eight-horse field.
“Brokeandoutofgas has hit her stride over recent weeks, highlighted by a hard-fought, late-charging victory last time out. Facing a comparable field tonight, her willingness to do the heavy lifting on the outside makes her the one to beat. I'm betting Barrieau works out another ideal off-the-pace trip to double up.”
The $6,050 Open Trot lines up in Race 10 with Fight Song starting from the rail for driver Jason Hughes, trainer Ashley Gamester and owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. The seven-year-old Kadabra-Fortunes Of Fables gelding enters off a 1:55.3 victory in the Open Trot last Thursday and has won five of 15 starts this season and 38 of 146 lifetime. He will renew his rivalry with fellow top trotters Flemsteen (PP2, Ken Murphy, 3-1) and Buckhead Ridge (PP3, Marc Campbell, 5-2).
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores; photo of Saulsbrook Fancy winning on Sept. 30)