Two-year-old pacing filly Meridian Magic went down the road to capture her $13,000 Lady Slipper Gold division and earn her 10th consecutive victory on Saturday’s program at Charlottetown Driving Park, which featured multiple Gold and Grassroots stake splits
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With trainer Kenny Arsenault between the wheels, Meridian Magic fired off the gate from Post 3 and carved out panels of :30 and 1:00.4 before turning back first-over challenger Oceanview Connie (Corey MacPherson) past three-quarters in 1:31.4. Heading into the stretch, the favoured daughter of Largo-Hot Asset unleashed a :28.3 kicker to secure the win in 2:00.2 by two and a half lengths. Oceanview Connie was the runner-up with Woodmere Sandollar (Stephen Trites) finishing four lengths behind in third.
Breeder Barry Martin shares ownership of the consistent filly with James Gillis of Sydney, N.S. Meridian Magic now sports a record reading 10-1-3 in 13 starts with $70,512 banked.
Earlier, Woodmere Rose survived a first-over journey to take the other $13,000 Lady Slipper Gold division with Gary Chappell in the bike. The Barry Folland pupil, sent postward as the 2-1 second choice, got away fourth in the five-horse field as longshot Waterside Kicker (Hilliard Graves) claimed the lead from the inside post. After a :30.3 first quarter, Chappell moved his charge to the outside and began advancing through stations of 1:01 and 1:32.1. Woodmere Rose pulled ahead of the pacesetter at the top of the lane and then kicked away by five lengths for the 2:02.2 score. Waterside Kicker stayed for second with favourite J J Solara (Clare MacDonald) finishing third off a pocket trip.
The winning Western Success-Blue Violet filly, who was a $1,400 Atlantic Classic yearling sale purchase, has won half of her 10 starts earning $12,355 for Folland and partner Roger Wall of Kensington, P.E.I.
In the $10,500 Grassroots division, favourite R Es Miss Jen and Jason Hughes advanced from last to first by three-quarters and dashed home to prevail in 2:01.4 by nine lengths. Blaine McKenna trains and co-owns the N Xample-R Es Jen filly, who is now three-for-eight this year, with Harold Culleton of Ellerslie, P.E.I.
A pair of $11,000 Joe O'Brien Memorial Gold divisions for two-year-old colt pacers were also featured Saturday afternoon at the Charlottetown half-miler
In the first event, favourite Goin Large and Darren Crowe battled Comebacks Sir Tax (Brian MacPhee) for the lead to the opening quarter in :29.1 before pulling ahead and laying down splits of 1:00.2 and 1:30. With Dr Alexander B (Shane Bernard) looming from first-over, Goin Large kicked into high gear in the stretch and used a :29.1 final frame to leap away by four and a quarter lengths. The 1:59.1 clocking was a new mark for the bay. Dr Alexander B and Woodmere Jethro (Ken Murphy) finished second and third.
The Kickin Horse Stable of Stratford, P.E.I owns the winner of four races in 14 starts and $29,187.
Chappell returned to the winner’s circle after guiding Mr Salming to victory in the second Gold division for the boys. The favoured Coastocoast Yankee-First To Fly colt got away third while Ringmaster (Brian MacPhee) put up the first quarter in :30-seconds. From there, Mr Salming moved first-up with his stablemate Island Redemption (Gilles Barrieau) following his cover to the 1:01.3 half-mile marker. As the field raced to three-quarters in 1:31.1, Island Redemption angled three-wide and threatened Ringmater’s lead, but the pacesetter dug in down the stretch. Mr Salming also unleashed a strong final quarter of :29.1, which was enough to send him to the lead in deep stretch and claim the win in 2:00.3 by a length. Ringmaster was second and Fitelle (Kenny Arsenault) came on for third.
Purchased for $8,500 at the Atlantic Classic sale by Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I., Mr Salming has recorded five wins, three seconds and a third in 10 starts earning $31,881. He is trained by Gilles Barrieau.
In the lone $9,500 Grassroots division, Benny Rabbit and trainer/driver Marc Campbell pulled off a 30-1 upset. The Benvolio Hanover-Da Bunny colt stopped the clock in 2:02.1 winning by two and a quarter lengths for local owner Hilliard Graves.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.