Atlantic Breeders Crown (ABC) Weekend kicked into high gear on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park with four $15,000 consolation events highlighting the 12-dash program.
Shanghai Whiskey ($2.80) closed out the ABC consolation action with a front-end victory in the three-year-old pacing colt division in the 12th race. Marc Campbell put the Wade Myers trainee on the engine through fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:26.3, and Shanghai Whiskey held off Blazing Cays (Darren Crowe) by half a length in 1:55.2. Woodmere Mahomes (Gilles Barrieau) finished third. Myers of Charlottetown, P.E.I. owns and bred the Shanghai Phil-Julep Hanover gelding.
Redland Abby ($10.90) captured the ABC two-year-old pacing filly consolation in the third race for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Stephen Quinn. The Pang Shui-Shaded Beach filly was fourth through :27.3 and :57.2 early fractions before advancing first-over to three-quarters in 1:28 and taking command around the final turn en route to a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:58.3. Howmac Derry (Adam Merner) was second with Imafancyfilly (Corey MacPherson) third. Redland Abby is owned by John Quinn and Anna-Grace Quinn of Charlottetown and Tom Hollis of Truro, N.S.
The two-year-old pacing colt consolation went to Philndangerous ($8.40) in the sixth race as Brodie MacPhee engineered the winning trip for trainer Tom Weatherbie. Philndangerous sat second behind Wilson Cassidy (Marc Campbell) through fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:26 before prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1. Wilson Cassidy settled for second with This Guns For Hire (Paul Langille) third. The winning Shanghai Phil-Prettyndangerous gelding is owned by Hal Smith of Pownal, P.E.I., Ian Smith of Stratford, P.E.I. and Weatherbie of Charlottetown.
Elm Grove Uncannie ($2.40) was dominant in the three-year-old pacing filly consolation in the ninth race. Adam Merner sent the Joe Baxter trainee to the front and never looked back, cutting fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:26.1 before opening up to win by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. Uptown Tonight (Myles Heffernan Sr.) was second while Covered In Purple (Ken Murphy) completed the triactor. Elm Grove Uncannie, a daughter of Malicious-Jens Credit is owned by Baxter of Kensington, P.E.I. and Earith Riley of Summerside, P.E.I.
Papis Rocket ($2.40) turned in the fastest mile of the afternoon in the eighth race as Murphy sent the four-year-old to the front through splits of :26.4, :55 and 1:23 before stopping the clock in 1:51.4. Merigo Magic (Merner) was second by 2-1/4 lengths with Impeccable Shadow (Langille) third. Mike Ramsay trains Papis Rocket, an intact son of Papi Rob Hanover-Real Touch, for owners Derrill Murphy, of Lethbridge, Alta. Max Webster Stable of Inverness, N.S., Jennifer Ritchie of Kingston, N.B. and Ryan MacLeod of Souris, P.E.I.
Campbell also visited the winner's circle with Mclovin ($2.20) in 1:55.2 for trainer James Perrot and Hunters Hero ($18.40) in 1:53.4 for trainer Landon Campbell.
Merner scored four driving victories on the program. He won with Muttin N Web ($15.60) in 1:58.2 and Somewhere Wind ($10.90) in 1:57.2 from his own barn, Neptune Seelster ($5.40) in 1:56.2 for trainer Michael Gallant and the previously mentioned Elm Grove Uncannie.
Live racing continues at Charlottetown on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. with a 14-race slate featuring eight Atlantic Breeders Crown Championship Finals.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)