A host of new records were etched on Sunday, Oct. 6 during an all-stakes card at Summerside Raceway, headlined by Tobins Chester, who cracked the track record for sophomore pacers.
Jason Hughes was in the bike for trainer Ashley Gamester and owner Donald MacRae as the three-year-old son of Shanghai Phil went all the way in 1:53.3 in a $24,300 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold division.
Tobins Chester (pictured above) protected his rail starting position to the first quarter in :28.1 before leading middle half fractions of :56.4 and 1:26. From there, the 1-20 favourite paced away by 4-1/2 lengths over Little Leroy and Pauls Crown who finished second and third, respectively.
The mile broke the former three-year-old pacing gelding record of 1:54 held by Malignity and made Tobins Chester the fastest sophomore in the track's history, lowering the previous mark established by Complete Player.
With the win, Tobins Chester has won 11 of 14 on the season, banking $106,993 in 2024 and $161,312 lifetime.
Merigo Magic was victorious in the other $24,300 Gold division, leading gate-to-wire in 1:56 for trainer/driver Adam Merner and owners Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron and Ian Walker.
The $12,150 Grassroots divisions of the Joe O’Brien Memorial for sophomore pacing colts were won by Justa Country Boy (Darren Crowe) in 1:58.2 for trainer Gardener McCallum and Woodmere Armour (Marc Campbell) in 1:56.4 from the Kevin MacLean barn.
Merner had four driving winners on the day as his trainee Oceanview Rumours, scored a 13-length romp in 1:59.2 for a new two-year-old trotting filly track record and new Atlantic record in her $18,150 Lady Slipper division. Supreme Rockette had the former standard of 2:01.3. It was the sixth straight win for Oceanview Rumours, who is owned by Scott Roloson, Bill Roloson and Joey Aylward.
Marc Campbell also had four driving wins Sunday with one coming on Bless Me Father in a $18,150 Lady Slipper two-year-old trotting colt division in a new track record of 1:59.4 for owner Donna Van Meer and trainer Landon Campbell. The trip erased the former track record of 2:01 held by West River Jet.
Dusty Lane Wee went all the way in her $17,300 Lady Slipper trot division for three-year-old fillies. Marc Campbell had the catch-driving call for trainer Lenny Myers and owners Garry MacDonald and Ronnie Gass. The time of the mile was 2:00.4.
Rocket Blast (Corey MacPherson) captured the Lady Slipper Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts in 2:01.1 for owner/trainer Carl Bagnall in the $17,300 event.
In the first $20,200 Lady Slipper Gold division for three-year-old pacing fillies, Woodmere Delta (David Dowling) won in 1:56 for trainer Jeff Holmes and owners Robert Sumarah, Frank Brundle and Brad Sumarah.
Miss Dutton (Merner) was the best in her $20,200 Lady Slipper Gold division with a 1:57.2 clocking for trainer Kuri White and owner Shoulda Been Onabeach Stb.
Wednesday was back from Ontario and romped by seven lengths in the final $20,200 Lady Slipper Gold division for three-year-old pacing fillies with Myles Heffernan Sr., aboard for trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., and owner Jackie Heffernan.
The $10,100 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies went to Woodmere Kennedie (Marc Campbell) in 1:56 for trainer Mike McGuigan, Woodmere Lizzie (Merner) in 1:59.2 for trainer David O’Brien and Showdown (Gilles Barrieau) in 1:57.1 for trainer Earl Watts.
Rosetown Mary (MacPherson) won the $5,150 leg of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series, presented by Standardbred Canada, in 1:55.1.
Live harness racing continues on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown.
To view Sunday's harness racing resuls, click the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)