Five consolation races kicked off the racing action for Atlantic Breeders Crown Weekend of Champions on Saturday afternoon at Charlottetown Driving Park.
Ramblinglily, Put To The Test, Windemere Nancy and Paradise Station won the pacing quartet of $5,000 Atlantic Breeders Crown Consolations while Carnivore captured the Island Pacing Championship Consolation.
Ramblinglily and driver Marc Campbell followed West River Xtra (Clare MacDonald) three-wide nearing the third quarter mark and out-sprinted that rival down the stretch to win the two-year-old pacing filly consolation in 2:02.1 by one length. Pacesetter Life Of A Cowgirl (Mike Stevenson) settled for third.
The Articulator-Crafty Jewel miss is owned and bred by trainer Allan Jones of Riverview, N.B. and Normand Leger of Shediac, N.B. She has won three times while never missing a paycheque in seven career starts. The 3-2 favourite paid $5.10 to win.
In the matching freshman colt consolation, Put To The Test and trainer-driver Darren Crowe overcame early interference, rallied around the stalled favourite Sinners In Heaven (Gilles Barrieau) down the backstretch, and wore down pacesetter Its My Turn (Jason Hughes) to win by a neck in a career-best 1:59.2. Go Ahead (Ben Hollingsworth) rounded out the top three finishers over seven lengths behind.
The Astronomical-Ardor Chymes gelding, who has picked up a paycheque in all 10 of his career starts while earning three wins, is owned by R G McGroup Ltd. of Bathurst, N.B. and William Shearer of Brookfield, N.S. Put To The Test paid $11.60 for the mild 9-2 upset.
Windemere Nancy survived an overland journey from post eight to win the three-year-old pacing filly consolation in 1:59.2 with Aaron Byron rocking the sulky for trainer-breeder Earl Watts. She swept three-wide down the backstretch and held on to win over Isleofpalms (Todd Trites) by one length. J J Maywest (Jason Hughes) was over four lengths back in third.
The Astronomical-Art Blanche filly is owned by Painting The Town Stable of Quispamsis, N.B. She paid $4.10 to win for the fifth time in 19 starts this year.
Paradise Station rallied wide around Island Lexus (Marc Campbell) at the third quarter station and downed that foe by two lengths to win the sophomore colt consolation in 1:58.2 for trainer-driver Bernard McCallum. Pacesetter Onward Finesse (Mike Stevenson) finished over four lengths behind in third.
Andrew MacLean of Inverness, N.S. owns the Western Paradise-Pancentralstation gelding, who is also five-for-19 this year. The winner paid $14.60 for the mild 6-1 upset.
Lucky Seven Stable's open pacer Carnivore romped to a 10 length victory in 1:54 for the Byron-Watts combination in the $3,000 Island Pacing Championship Consolation, sponsored by Meridian Farms. Wellthereyougo (Jason Hughes) and Lisfinny (Norris Rogers) were the best of the rest. The six-year-old Real Desire paid $5.20 to win as the slight second choice.
Also on the card, former Atlantic Breeders Crown runner-up Waiting On A Woman won his second straight $1,800 Open Trot since returning to the East Coast. He won by more than three lengths in 2:00.1 with Brodie MacPhee in the sulky for Mitchell and David Tierney of Cornwall, P.E.I. The favourite paid $3.10 to win.
The six Atlantic Breeders Crown finals and the Island Pacing Championship will be held on Sunday at Charlottetown. First race post time is 1 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.