Abby Clow reached the winner's circle for the first time in her training career as Olivers Sweetie blew away her second-race opponents in an impressive effort on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Olivers Sweetie, a three-year-old daughter of Somewhere Fancy-The Muggins owned by Clow, sat at the rear of the five-horse field to a :29.3 first quarter. Driver Brett Clow then sent her into the breeze, and the filly marched forwards inexorably through middle panels of 1:00.3 and 1:31.4 and drove clear by five lengths to win in 2:01.4. Thepotionismotion (Gilles Barrieau) was second-best over Redland Jade (Adam Merner). Olivers Sweetie, who has made all 20 of her starts for Abby Clow, won for the first time and has now earned $5,050. She paid $17.10 to win.
Abby Clow, of Cornwall, P.E.I., got off the schneid in her 45th start and improved her card to 1-1-1 with $6,975 in earnings. She made her debut in May 2025 with Hemingway.
The Chris MacKay-trained Miss Dutton ($5.80) won the $4,850 featured 12th-race conditioned pace in 1:56.1 for owner Shoulda Been Onabeach Stable of Charlottetown. Desroche brought the five-year-old daughter of Rollwithitharry-Woodmere Dancenart from fifth at the half to win by a neck over Dee (Jason Hughes), with Sweet Molly (Ken Murphy) third.
Cafe De Flore ($4.20) supplied the fastest mile of the evening, winning the $4,900 conditioned pace in Race 11 in 1:56 with Murphy aboard for trainer Saul Lanigan. The two-year-old daughter of Stay Hungry-Jennys Terror cut the fractions before drawing away by nine lengths. Cinnamon Swirlz (Corey MacPherson) was second, with Tobins Cream (John MacKenzie) another nine lengths back in third. Lanigan, of Cambridge, P.E.I., co-owns the filly with Dever Pickard and Ben Lanigan of Stratford, P.E.I.
Adam Merner had a training and driving double. He won with Tobins Cover Girl ($3) in 1:56.2 for Cory Livingston of Village Green, P.E.I. and Max Sehl of Port Morien, N.S., and Lady Llamrei ($3.90) in 1:56.2 for Marsha Knox of Stanhope, P.E.I. Tobins Cover Girl powered clear by eight-and-a-half lengths while Lady Llamrei closed the 13-dash card with a 3-1/2-length decision.
Hughes drove a pair of winners from the Ashley Gamester stable. Hailforcewins ($9.60) scored by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.2 for Donna and Courtney MacLean of Fairview, P.E.I., while Serenity Now ($2.10) won by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56.1 for Kurt Hughes of Alexandra, P.E.I.
Whole Nother ($8.60) edged out Rina Labelle (Marc Campbell) by a nose in the $5,000 ninth-race trot in 1:58.3, with Desert Hayz (Murphy) third. Colin Sheppard drove the Morgan Sheppard trainee and shares ownership with Darcy Duffenais of Brackley, P.E.I.
The $4,500 third-race trot went to Mile Hill Waylon ($9.10) in 2:02.2 with Gilles Barrieau driving for trainer Paul Morrison and owners John and Barbara Breau of Shediac Cape, N.B. Ripped And Ready (Brett Clow) was second by 3-1/4 lengths, followed by Miss Gracie Ridge (Brodie MacPhee).
Live racing continues Saturday at 5 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown. The Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale will take place at the Crapaud Exhibition Grounds in Crapaud, P.E.I, with the sale preview Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and the sale starting at 11 a.m. on Friday.
(Standardbred Canada & Red Shores)