Sweetwater Rukkus won the Maritime Breeders Final for three-year-old trotters Saturday night at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The $8,400 final, presented by Meridian Farms and named in honour of John 'Buddy' Campbell, was a memorable win for driver Jack Panting in his young career. Panting is the grandson of the legendary Ralph Annear, a trot specialist in the Atlantic region for decades and the owner and trainer of Sweetwater Rukkus.
Panting placed the son of Bo W-Saulsbrook Image behind tempo-setter Dusty Red Lane and Paul Lanigan, who finished second, through fractions of :30.1, 1:00 and 1:30.4 before overpowering the field in 2:03.1 over a 'good' surface. Favourite Majian Dillon and Gilles Barrieau was third over stablemate Majian Chester and James Ripley.
Balanchine won the Preferred Pace for red hot driver Brodie MacPhee in 1:56.1. Proven Lover, who had to tip three-wide down the backstretch, was second for Gary Chappell, while Jason Hughes mapped out a third-place finish with Eagle Luck. The Jackie Matheson trainee is owned by Mike Pollard of Stratford, P.E.I. and Joey Gallant of Charlottetown.
The evening trot class went to Caliban Hanover and trainer-driver Ron Gass, who survived a parked out trip to win in 2:03.1 for owner Wendell MacDonald of Cornwall, P.E.I.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)