Driver Adam Merner was firing on all cylinders on the second half of a special Maritime Breeders Stakes Saturday doubleheader at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Merner won three of the Home Hardware Maritime Breeders Stakes divisions for three-year-old pacers during Saturday's evening program.
The Cape Breton native started the winning in a $20,250 division for fillies with Miss Dutton in a 1:56.3 final clocking, finishing 2-1/2 lengths in front of Fern Hill Indigo (Brodie MacPhee) and U No Peach (Kenny Arsenault). Kuri White trains the daughter of Rollwithitharry who recorded her third straight stakes win for owner Shoulda Been Onabeach Stable.
Downtown Tonight was another Merner-driven winner in the next filly division at 10-1 odds in 1:56 by a half-length over race favourite Zendayas Firstlady (Myles Heffernan Sr.) while Windemere Saddy (Marc Campbell) was third. Tom Weatherbie trains the Shanghai Phil lass for owners Cam and Gordon MacPhee.
Merner’s third Maritime Breeders Stakes prize was in a $28,500 division for the colts and geldings as he converted a two-hole trip with his own trainee Merigo Magic to glory in 1:54.3, snapping Tobins Chester’s win streak at five. Merner trains the Tobago Cays colt, a 10-time winner this season who equalled his lifetime mark, for Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron and Ian Walker. Tobins Chester (Jason Hughes) finished a quarter-length behind in second and Swordfromthestone (Marc Campbell) completed the triactor.
Merner also won an overnight dash with Well Said Celeb from his own barn in 1:55.2 for four wins on the program and earlier in the day took his trainee Little Taggs to the winner's circle after a 1:57.4 score for a total of five on the doubleheader day.
In other action, Atlantic Breeders Crown filly champion Galway Girl went all the way in her $20,250 split for driver Marc Campbell, trainer Brent Campbell and owners Brady Doyle, Kent MacDonald, Bernard MacDonald and Jacinta Campbell. The time of the mile was 1:56.2 for the Shanghai Phil filly, who bested First Filly Chip (Corey MacPherson) by three-quarters of a length, with Rollwithitdarling (Paul Langille) back in third.
In the other colt and gelding division, Jackies Boy and driver Myles Heffernan Sr. held on to win in 1:55.1 in a neck decision over Howmac General (Paul Langille). Little Leroy (Corey MacPherson) was third. Myles Heffernan Jr. owns, trains and bred the winning son of Tobago Cays.
Also on the evening card, Acefortyfour Dome scored a mild upset at 8-1 odds in the $14,650 Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series final, presented by Standardbred Canada, for driver Jason Hughes, trainer Ashley Gamester and owner Donald MacRae. The time of the mile was 1:54.1 for the seven-year-old Up The Credit mare, who also won last year's series. She defended her title winning by 1-1/2 lengths over favourite Pasta Momma (Marc Campbell) and Sugar Bowl (Gilles Barrieau).
The Saturday afternoon program featured Maritime Breeders Stakes action for two-year-old pacers.
Malevolent headlined a trio of $22,400 divisions for the the colts and geldings for trainer/driver Paul Langille as the son of Malicious romped to an 8-1/2-length victory in 1:54.3, just two-fifths of a second off the divisional track record. He improved his career stats to nine wins in 10 starts for owners Debbie Francis and Rosanne Langille. Like A King (David Dowling) won the race for place over Sergeant Crowley (Gilles Barrieau) third.
Rosetown Eclipse was a 1:58.1 winner for trainer/driver Corey MacPherson and owners Rosetown Stable, Jim Gorman and Mike Gorman. The Bet The Moon gelding won by three lengths over Woodmere Rocketman (Gilles Barrieau) with Phil My Beer (Marc Campbell) back in third.
One Can Dan pulled off an 11-1 upset, breaking his maiden in 1:58.2 for owner/driver Redmond Doucet and trainer Lennan MacIsaac. The Arthur Blue Chip colt won by a length with Dilicious (Gilles Barrieau) nabbing second over race favourite Here On Earth (Adam Merner).
Never Shui Never was victorious in one of two $31,600 filly divisions in 1:58 to remain undefeated in her career for trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau and owner Nikway Farms. The Pang Shui filly won by 1-3/4 lengths over Howmac Maleficent (Ken Murphy) and Jafetica (Myles Heffernan Sr.).
Driver Corey MacPherson doubled up in the day's stakes action as filly Howmac Charger defeated popular pacesetter Saulsbrook Inferno (David Dowling) in a new lifetime mark of 2:00.2 by three-quarters of a length with Red Dirt Rock It (Mike McGuigan) third. Paul Conway co-owns and trains the daughter of Bet The Moon with co-owner Zach Conway.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores; Photo of Merigo Magic winning on Oct. 26)