There has never been a two-year-old trotter break the 2:00 barrier in the history of Atlantic Canadian Harness Racing but Southwind Arturo was set on defying the record books on Saturday (Nov. 6) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The son of Muscle Hill was moved to the lead at the quarter pole in his $2,200 overnight trot class and trainer-driver Marc Campbell kept the rookie in motion through splits of :30.1, :58.3 and 1:29 before closing out the mile in 1:58.3 for a new trotting standard for his age group, defeating an older pair of track record holders — Mile Hill Willie and Incredible Two — in the process.
The mile eclipsed the overall two-year-old trot record in Charlottetown of 2:00.2 set by Buckaroo in September of 2017 while the overall Atlantic record for rookie trotters was held by Mabou Ridge with a 2:00 victory in Truro in 2019. Southwind Arturo, who just returned from the stakes circuit in New Jersey, is owned by Robin Burke of Brackley and Natasha Campbell of Winsloe.
Campbell had four winners on the day to find himself just two back of the lead in the driving title to the injured Gilles Barrieau. Campbell won with Better Be In Love (1:57.2) for trainer Brendan Mullen, along with two more wins from his Orwell stable with Freddie (1:58.4) in the $2,700 Open Trot and Filly Forty Seven (1:55.3) in the $3,100 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace.
Driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Ron Gass teamed up for a double on the day winning with Miss Sangria (1:58.4) and Magical Lily Bear (2:00.1).
The capital oval hosted a pair of divisions of the $4,000 P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association Autumn Series won by DC Hammering Hank (Dave Kelly Sr.) in 2:03.1 and Psili Ammos (Kenny Arsenault) in 2:01.1.
The P.E.I.H.R.I.A. Fall Challenge Series had a trio of $5,000 splits captured by Windemere Albert (David Dowling) in 1:58.1, Lock Her Up (Arsenault) in 1:58.1 and JJ Patrick (Mike McGuigan) in 1:58.4.
Total wager was $68,479. For race replays and more go to Redshores.ca. To view the results from Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)