Windemere Skye broke a track and Atlantic Canada record as she extended her perfect record to 10 in Lady Slipper Stakes action at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday, Sept. 4.
In the second $32,400 Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies, Windemere Skye ($2.10) pushed her way to the top from post seven for Adam Merner, putting up a :27.4 first quarter, and none of her seven foes had an answer as she cruised through :56.4 and 1:26.1 middle fractions and flew home to stop the clock in 1:54.2. Serenity Now (Jason Hughes) was a gaining second, followed by Hatchling (Marc Campbell).
The mile established a new track record for two-year-old pacing fillies, erasing the 1:54.4 mark set by Fitness First in August. Windemere Skye also lowered the Atlantic Canada record previously co-held by Fitness First and Redlandbethanyjean.
Windemere Skye improved her lifetime record to 10-for-10 and took a new speed badge. The Somewhere Fancy-Howmac Missy lass has earned $90,685 for owners Windemere Farms of Springvale, P.E.I. and Matt Burke of Stratford, P.E.I. Earl Watts has trained the filly to eight stakes wins this year. Saturday's performance was her second track record in less than a week after posting a new mark for a rookie pacing filly at Inverness Raceway on Sunday.
Bless Me Father ($2.60) was the first record-setter of the day, breaking a local and Atlantic record in the $19,950 Lady Slipper three-year-old colt trot split. He delivered as the heavy favourite, wiring the field with :28.2, :58, and 1:28.2 splits en route to a 1:56.2 victory for driver Marc Campbell and owner-conditioner Donna Van Meer of Mount Herbert, P.E.I. West River Jet (Ken MacDonald) finished second over Dusty Lane Gus (Merner).
The mile bested Southwind Arturo’s 1:57.1 track record for three-year-old trotters and lowered the overall Atlantic Canada record that he previously co-hold with Southwind Arturo. Bless Me Father, a son of Father Patrick-My Angel Heart, is 10-for-12 since moving to the Island last year. He has earned $71,151 with 10 wins in 15 outings.
The Cattlewash-Lucy Hanover colt Disko Bay ($2.10) rewrote the Charlottetown record for a two-year-old colt pacer in the second $28,600 Joe O’Brien Memorial split for his division. He initially took back from post one for Paul Langille but slingshotted to the front after a :28.3 opening quarter. He then paced unopposed through :57.1 and 1:26.3 middle fractions and held on by a neck over Sporty Anthony (Ken Murphy) for a 1:55.2 score. Windemere Barkley (Marc Campbell) was third. Disko Bay extended his winning streak to five and is unbeaten since his debut. Langille trains the colt, a five-time winner in six outings with $27,250 in bankroll, for Nikway Farms of St. David's, N.L.
Little Louis ($2.70) made it eight straight victories in the $20,820 Lady Slipper division for rookie trotting colts. He front-stepped through :30.2, 1:00.2, and 1:32 panels and powered to a 2-3/4-length victory in 2:02 for trainer Kuri White and driver Corey MacPherson. Hoponarocket (Barrieau) was second, followed by Nikway Rocks It (Myles Heffernan Sr.). The winning E L Rocket-Go With Her colt, owned by East Coast Captains of Cornwall, is unbeaten since his debut and has earned $62,059.
Though her record was broken, Fitness First ($6.30) came away from the card with a stakes victory as she captured the first Lady Slipper Gold division for freshman filly pacers. Trainer-driver Corey MacPherson had her on top at the quarter from post six, and the filly came home a 1-3/4-length victor in 1:57. Beach Jewels (Marc Campbell) and Lila Berry (Mike McGuigan) completed the triactor. Fitness first, a daughter of Stay Hungry-Apogee Hanover, is owned by Jim Gorman.
The Ultimate Stable’s Zero Two Sixty ($2.50) looked every bit the part of a 1-5 favourite, cutting the mile in 1:57.1 for driver Gilles Barrieau in the first Joe O'Brien Memorial Gold division for two-year-old pacing geldings. He was 1-3/4 lengths the best over Streakantonio (David Dowling) with Woodmere Kobe (Kenny Arsenault) third. Sifroi Melanson trains the winning son of Tobago Cays-J J Mistress.
The first Lady Slipper trotting trophy of the day belonged to the three-year-old fillies, and it was Supreme Rockette ($6.50) who answered the bell in the $19,950 contest. Gilles Barrieau put the E L Rocket-Supreme Monarch filly on the point and never looked back, with the Mike McGuigan trainee trotting in 2:00.1 in a 4-3/4-length romp for owner Jamie Whalen. Dusty Lane Kahlua (Merner) was second, and Majian Mystery (Jim Ripley) completed the triactor.
The $20,820 Lady Slipper contest for two-year-old trotting fillies had Roseys El Girl ($11.30) put a 2:01.3 mark on the board in a 1-1/4-length victory. Ken Murphy drove the E L Rocket-Rosey River filly for owner-breeder-trainer William Lanigan. Bonmati (MacPherson) and Emberlees Rocket (Marc Campbell) rounded out the top three.
The program opened with a $14,300 Joe O’Brien Memorial Grassroots tilt for two-year-old pacing colts, and Real Fancy Pants ($5.60) went all the way in 1:59.2 for driver Jason Hughes, trainer Ashley Gamester, and owner Donald MacRae. Hughes, Gamester and MacRae won the other Grassroots O’Brien Memorial with Goose Commander ($13.90) in 1:57.2.
Driver Ken Murphy swept the Lady Slipper Grassroots for two-year-old pacing fillies as Ea Money Maker ($2.70) won her assignment in 1:57.1 for trainer Saul Lanigan, who co-owns her with Chris Farrell and Mark Lanigan, while the other division went to Saulsbrook Carly ($7) for owner-trainer Joe Baxter.
The $5,500 Preferred 1 Pace turned into a down-the-lane showcase for Gold Cup and Saucer champion Miki Shan N, who rocketed home in :26.2 to win in 1:51.2 for MacPherson and trainer Chris MacKay. Twin B Tuffenuff (Barrieau) was a strong runner-up with Nothing Bugs Me (Marc Campbell) third.
Miki Shan N, a six-year-old son of Always B Miki-Yankee Dream, is owned by Kap Singh Racing Stable, Stephen Klunowski, Earl Hill Jr., and MacRae. He has won nine straight races since moving to the Maritimes. His record now stands at 19-for-56 with $279,140 in earnings.
The Gold Cup and Saucer champion and his connections were greeted in the winner’s circle by 2025 Baseball Canada National Senior Men’s champions, the Charlottetown Gaudet’s Autobody Islanders.
Live racing continues on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)