Windemere Skye extended her perfect career record to 26-for-26 in her final stakes start of the season with a 13-length romp on Saturday, Oct. 17 as the Home Hardware Maritime Breeders took over Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Windemere Skye ($2.10) was sensational in the third $25,875 three-year-old pacing filly division in the eighth race, leading every step for Marc Campbell through fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25 before sprinting home in :28.1 to win in 1:53.1. Elm Grove Uncannie (Adam Merner) finished second with Mattnificent Rose (Paul Langille) third.
Earl Watts trains the Somewhere Fancy-Howmac Missy filly for owners Windemere Farms of Springvale, P.E.I. and Matt Burke of Stratford, P.E.I. Windemere Skye is now undefeated in 26 career starts, including 14 victories this season after a perfect 12-race rookie campaign. She has now earned $259,818.
Woodmere Rock It ($2.10) kept his own unbeaten record intact with an 18-length demolition in the third $27,000 two-year-old pacing colt division in the ninth race. Gilles Barrieau sent the Jamie Smith trainee to the front through fractions of :28.1, :56.4 and 1:25.1 on the way to a 1:55.1 score. Southdale Jeff (Merner) was second with Saulsbrook Andy (Corey MacPherson) third.
The Tobago Cays-Musette Mindale gelding made it 11 straight victories to remain undefeated as a rookie for owner Thestable Woodmererock It of Guelph, Ont. His bankroll now sits at $102,871 for the year.
Campbell and Watts also teamed up to sweep the $38,000 two-year-old pacing filly divisions, giving the conditioner a triple on the 10-race all-stakes card that featured $307,425 in purses.
Starship Daisy ($2.10) controlled second-race group through splits of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:29.3 before winning by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:59.3 for owner Francis Poirier of Havre-aux-Maisons, Que. Howmac Derry (Merner) was second ahead of Redland Abby (Jason Hughes). The winning daughter of Somewhere Fancy-Romance In Camelot improved her record to seven-for-11 and her bankroll to $101,766.
In the seventh-race split, Sheeowtime Speed ($2.40) powered uncovered from the back of the field after a :28.1 quarter, marching up through a :59.3 half and to the front before three-quarters in 1:28.4. She then drew clear to win by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:59.1. Woodmere Twigs (Merner) finished second with No Fool Dickie (Brady Sweet) third. The Somewhere Fancy-Betty Hill filly is owned by Windemere Farms and Matt and David Burke of Stratford. She is six-for-10 lifetime with $69,882 in bankroll.
The stakes triple brought Watts' seasonal total past the 100-win threshold for the first time in his career. The Springvale trainer is winning at a 34 per cent rate this season and has also set a personal best in earnings.
Zero Two Sixty ($3.40) tallied his sixth consecutive victory and completed Ken Murphy’s driving triple in the finale, the second $36,400 division for three-year-old male pacers. He led through fractions of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:26.3 before closing in :28.2 for a 4-1/2-length victory in 1:55. Woodmere Mahomes (Barrieau) finished second with Shekhan (Redmond Doucet) third. Sifroi Melanson trains the Tobago Cays-J J Mistress gelding for Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, N.B. Zero Two Sixty has 14 wins and $170,467 in earnings from 30 career starts.
Goose Commander ($8.90) took over after the opening quarter of :28.1 in the fifth-race sophomore colt pace contest, paced middle panels of :58.4 and 1:27.4 and held off Oceanview Lou (Brodie MacPhee) by a half-length in 1:57.1, with Smilin With Lou (Merner) third. Jason Hughes drove the Ashley Gamester trainee for owner-breeder Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. Goose Commander won for the fifth time in 24 career outings and raised his earnings to $62,036.
Mike McGuigan trainees captured the other two $25,875 three-year-old pacing filly divisions.
Lila Berry ($4.30) supplied Campbell’s other driving victory, setting fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:27.2 in the opener before holding off Saulsbrook Fancy (MacPherson) by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1. Beach Jewels (Barrieau) was third. Little Pond Stables of Little Pond, P.E.I. owns the Arthur Blue Chip-Next Life Hanover filly, who is six-for-34 lifetime with $55,851 in earnings.
Alwaysinfullforce ($2.80) led throughout the fourth race for Murphy, recording splits of :28.3, :58.3 and 1:27 on her way to a two-length victory in 1:56.3. Starship Sundancer (Langille) was second with Isle Mach Da Money (Barrieau) third. James Whalen of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. owns the Force N Fury-Toujours filly. Alwaysinfullforce took her eighth win from 31 lifetime outings and brought her career bankroll to $100,912.
Murphy also won a $27,000 two-year-old pacing colt division in the third race with No Moni No Funi ($4.30). After sitting third through :28.4 and 1:00 early panels, he advanced to take command before three-quarters in 1:29 and drew away by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:59. Clifford Murphy trains the Somewhere Fancy-Prime Time Baby colt for Sandra Webster, Jeffery Cummings and Courtney Gallant of Stratford. Camco Kolton (MacPherson) and Philndangerous (Brodie MacPhee) completed the triactor. The winner is now three-for-eight and has banked $26,222.
Woodmere Dougal ($4.80) took the other $27,000 rookie colt division in the sixth race for trainer-driver MacPherson. The Bet The Moon-Princess Rusty gelding raced third through :27.2 and :58.1 first-half fractions, then moved past pacesetter Malicious Benny (Campbell) before three-quarters in 1:28.2 and held off Woodmere Fergus (Hughes) by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:57.2. Someplacesomewhere (Merner) was third. Peter Smith of Stratford and Gerald Morrissey of Charlottetown, P.E.I. own the winner, who has three victories and $49,011 in earnings in 10 starts.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)