Three-quarters of the entire Saturday afternoon program saw driver David Dowling finish first or second as he cruised to his first Paul MacDonald Memorial Driving Championship title during Horseperson’s Day at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Dowling dominated the card with six wins and three second-place finishes including four wins in the eight-race, MacDonald Memorial Driving Championship, sponsored by the PEI Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association.
Dowling won the competition with 73 points with Gilles Barrieau finishing second at 66 points and Earl Smith third on the day with 51 points. Fourth was Mike McGuigan with 48 points then Brian MacPhee and Corey MacPherson were tied for fifth place at 47 points. Jason Hughes was seventh in the challenge with 46 points and Mark Bradley rounded out the field at 44 points.
Dowling started the action off in the first race of the competition winning with Sendmeasign in 2:01.4 for trainer Alex Sobey of Summerside. Noplay won the second leg of the contest in line to Dowling in 2:01 for Allan Gregory of Charlottetown.
Lincoln Seelster from the Jackie Matheson stable captured leg three to give Barrieau a spot in the win column with a 2:01.1 score. Dowling finished second with Sanchez Blue Chip to maintain his healthy points lead in the championship.
The winning resumed for Dowling in the fourth leg as Casimir Obama romped in 2:00.3 from the Todd Walsh Stable. The veteran pacer gave MacPherson his first win of the competition in leg five as the 13-year-old scored in 2:00.3 for trainer Kerry Taylor. Dowling finished second with Confident Fella.
The sixth race of the challenge saw Jens Credit double up Barrieau for trainer Ryan Perrot of Charlottetown stopping the clock in 2:01.1. Dowling continued his driving perfection with a second place finish with Back In The Game.
Smith won the next leg aboard West River Ambyr for trainer Harold Shepherd in 1:58.4. To top the day off, Outrageous Spirit was a winner in the last race of the eight-race championship for Dowling and trainer Kevin Peters in 2:01.1.
Dowling other two wins came in regular overnight action with Best To Hurst in 1:58.2 for trainer Earl Watts and Knockout Punch in 2:02.4 for trainer Marvyn Webster of Kensington.
L to R - Peter Smith, Jason Hughes, Gilles Barrieau, Mike McGuigan, Corey MacPherson, Devon MacDonald, David Dowling, Danny MacDonald, Mark Bradley, Brian MacPhee and Earl Smith (Gail MacDonald Photo)
(With files from CDP)
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.