A field of nine lined up behind the gate to partake in the lone $1,500 Maritime Breeders Futurity elimination for three-year-old trotters Saturday at Charlottetown Driving Park
In the end it was Ralph Annear’s homebred Black River-Maple Leaf Legacy filly, Maple Leaf Quix, who prevailed in 2:07 by two lengths over a track rated four seconds off with Kenny Arsenault in the bike. The 3-1 second choice left from the five post with Pks Devil (Gary Chappell) making a costly break to her outside. She tucked in behind Post 1 starter Oyster Bed Mary (Paul Morrison), who led through fractions of :30.1, 1:03, 1:35.4, but angled out in the stretch and paced home in :31 seconds for the victory.
Oyster Bed Mary stayed for second with West River Tigger (Clare MacDonald) finishing third.
Annear trains and owns the winner of four races in 10 starts this year with Steven Sorrie of Sturgeon, P.E. Maple Leaf Quix’s fourth win lifetime lifted her earnings to $14,229.
The top eight finishers advance to next Saturday’s final at the Charlottetown half-miler.
Eliminations for two-year-old pacers and trotters are set for Sunday at Truro Raceway (first post at 1:30 p.m). To view Sunday’s harness racing entries, click here.
In other trotting action, favourite Pick Up Point scored his third straight win the $1,400 Open Pace. Arsenault, who scored a driving grand slam on the 12-race card, guided the four-year-old Dream Vacation-Nolessthanperfect gelding to a 2:04 victory by four and a quarter lengths in front-stepping fashion.
Hopedale Last Bill (Joey Pineau) and Dusty Lane Shelby (Corey MacPherson) finished second and third.
Arsenault trains the winner of six races in 17 starts this season for owner David Ratchford, of North Sydney, N.S. Pick Up Point’s eighth win lifetime lifted his bankroll to $6,591.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.