Kenny Arsenault is the 2015 driving champion and the winner of the Paul MacDonald Memorial Trophy, taking the competition with a victory aboard Idealic Life in the final leg during Horseperson’s Day on Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Arsenault opened the event, presented by PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association, with top honours driving Zanzibar for trainer Paul Morrison and also rallied back into contention with a score aboard DBS Rosco, owned by Wendell and Robbie Shaw and Derek Folland, to keep him near leaders Ron Matheson and Jason Hughes going into the final race. The competition was very close right until the end, but the win with Idealic Life, owned by Blair Hansen, put Arsenault atop the standings with 63 points. Matheson, who also had a big day with a driving triple, was the runner-up with 61 points. Veteran driver Gary Chappell finished third with 59 points, with Corey MacPherson and Jason Hughes tied for fourth with 58. The other competing drivers were Vince Poulton (55), Marc Campbell (53), Jack Panting (48) and Terry Gallant (42).
In other action, Ramblinglily, with Walter Cheverie in the bike, stopped Sam’s winning streak at seven, defeating her by half a length in the $2,350 Mares Open in 1:59.4 for trainer Allan Jones and his co-owner Norman Leger.
Kims PJS claimed the $1,550 trot class in the Emmett and Albert Bernard Memorial for catch-driver Marc Campbell, trainer Lenny Myers and co-owner Paul Murphy. The 2:04.3 victory was her first win over the past two years.
Bazillion recorded back to back victories in the afternoon’s $2,100 top class. Brian MacPhee supplied the winning drive for owner Kent Livingston and trainer Trevor Hicken. Painted Desert (Mark Bradley) and Nogreatmischief (Walter Cheverie) completed the triactor. The time of the mile was 1:58 flat.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)