Post position proved to be no obstacle in the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares final, sponsored by Standardbred Canada, at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway, which hosted a full-card of stakes action on Sunday (October 2).
Drivingthedragon N left like a rocket from post eight to secure the lead at the :27.2 quarter in the $15,716 event for Jason Hughes, who recorded a training-driving triple on the card. The seven-year-old daughter of Sutter Hanover then unleashed a :57 half-mile fraction, with three-quarters in 1:26.2 while fighting off the first-over Shadows Mystery (Gilles Barrieau). A final quarter of :28.2 sealed the deal for Drivingthedragon N for a three-length victory over Ramblinglily (Ken Murphy) with Shadows Mystery finishing third. Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. owns Drivingthedragon N.
In Lady Slipper gold action on the program, Every Time won her $11,300 division with Corey MacPherson in the bike in 1:58.2, while Dustlanemissmolly captured the other division in 1:56.3 for driver Adam Merner.
Merner had another gold victory on the program, winning one of three $7,600 Joe O’Brien Memorial stakes with Beaus Cowboy in 1:56, while Abner The Great (Marc Campbell) and Jackson K Down (Barrieau) also won divisions, both in 1:56.3.
The Lady Slipper stakes for two and three-year-old trotters also went postward on the program. Wicked Nick won his $8,000 Lady Slipper two-year-old stake in 2:03.3 with Gary Chappell in the bike, with the other two-year-old division going to Revenueofwindemere (Terry Gallant) in 2:05.1.
Mr Bower was victorious in his $7,600 Lady Slipper three-year-old trotting assignment down the road in 2:02.3 for Kenny Arsenault.
Oceanview Pancho rewrote the record books in the other three-year-old Lady Slipper split, winning in 2:00.2 as part of a driving double for MacPherson, who was at the lines for co-owner and trainer Paul Larrabee of Belle River, and co-owner William Roloson of Belfast, P.E.I. The victory gave Oceanview Pancho the distinction of being the fastest three-year-old trotting stallion in Island history, while the gelding record is still held by Waiting On A Woman in 1:59.1, who was also driven by MacPherson that day five years ago.
Chappell and Gallant recorded training-driving doubles on the card, while trainer Ron Gass also had two winners.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)