Front-end tactics was all it took for I C True Grit to find the winner’s circle in the Thursday evening featured pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Gilles Barrieau was in the driver’s seat for the winning score in the $2,100 top event of the Thursday evening program. I C True Grit went to front as he took over from early pacesetter Rockin Indy (Driven by David Dowling) past the opening quarter of :28.1. Barrieau and his charge tripped the second fraction in :58 then proceeded to three-quarters in 1:28.1 before closing out the mile in a clock stopping 1:57.4 over a track rated with a one-second variant. Rockin Indy was a closing second while third went to Likely To Win (Adam Merner).
I C True Grit is trained by Jackie Matheson for owners Joey Gallant and Ingham Jenkins of Charlottetown, PE.
Frill Seeker used similar tactics to capture the $1,950 Open trot in a front-end score of 2:03.3 for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault and owner Ebbsfleet Stable of Stratford, Ont. Professor Gordon (Jason Hughes) was second while Dusty Lane Jacob (Merner) completed the Triactor.
CL La Rousse put together a colossal shocker in race 5 of the program as she was placed to first and paid $245.20 for a $2 win ticket. Dowling was in the bike for the 2:02 mile for trainer Reg Ferguson of Charlottetown, PE. Sports Highlights (Barrieau) hit the wire first but was set back to third for interference on Miss Sangria (Merner) in the stretch drive.
Sailor Blue won her third straight race in trotting action on the program. Barrieau was in the bike for the 14-length romp in 2:03.2 for co-owner and trainer Cindy MacDonald and co-owner Yoss Martonovich of Montague, PE.
Hughes scored a pair of wins from his own stable as Sir Native stopped the clock in 2:02.1 in the finale and Perfect Raider was a 2:00.3 winner in race 6.
(CDP)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.