Papis Rocket blasted to victory in the featured $7,150 Preferred Pace on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
David Dowling engineered the front-end victory with Papis Rocket ($5.70) in the ninth-race top pace for trainer Mike Ramsay. The four-year-old son of Papi Rob Hanover-Real Touch took command from post two and carved out fractions of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.2 before sprinting home in 29 seconds to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.2. Arbitrage Hanover (Ken Murphy) closed in :28.2 to finish second while Hunters Hero (Marc Campbell) was third.
Papis Rocket is owned by 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. The stallion has won three straight starts, rising in class in the past two, and is six-for-21 on the season. Saturday's win brought his career totals to 13 victories and $735,665 in earnings from 57 outings.
Campbell made three trips to the winner's circle on the 12-race card, including a dominant victory with Western Artist ($4.20) in the fifth race. The Lenny Myers-trained three-year-old controlled the action from start to finish to win by 7-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2 over Gastone Phil (Don MacNeill) and Carlou Gambino (Ken Murphy). The Orwell, P.E.I. reinsman also captured the third race with Im From A Beach ($5.60) for trainer David O’Brien. The two-year-old gelding held off a late charge from Malefic (Paul Langille) to win by a half-length in 2:01.1. Big Time Bobby (Adam Merner) was third. Campbell completed his triple in the sixth race with Bentley ($2.80) for trainer John Clarey. The four-year-old stallion advanced first-over and powered past Elroy Shiner (Brady Sweet) to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.3. Mr Rielly (Corey MacPherson) finished third.
Allaboutthecash ($12.50) delivered a sharp stretch performance in the $4,700 seventh-race pace with Brady Sweet in the bike for trainer Jeff Holmes. The five-year-old gelding sat in the pocket early as House Edge Hanover (Ken Murphy) controlled the fractions. Starship Glyde (Marc Campbell) challenged first-over heading to the three-quarter pole before Allaboutthecash found room late to prevail by a half-length in 1:54.4 over House Edge Hanover, with Starship Glyde third.
Langille scored a $29 upset in the 10th race with Evil Vintage for trainer Corey MacPherson. The six-year-old gelding made a first-over move and took command in the stretch before holding off Vino Louie (Murphy) by a quarter-length in 1:58.1. Cheekie Play (MacPherson) was third.
Merner captured the fourth race with Solid Silver ($10.20) for trainer-owner Stacey Chappell. The eight-year-old gelding controlled the pace and drew away by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:59.4 over Justcallmedoc (Keith Ford), with Moonwriter (Sweet) completing the top three.
Live racing continues on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside Raceway.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)