Papis Rocket held off a determined challenge from heavily favoured Arbitrage Hanover to capture the $7,150 Preferred Pace on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
David Dowling sent Papis Rocket ($5.10) directly to the front in the 11th race and controlled the opening quarter in :27.4 before reaching the half in :58.2. Arbitrage Hanover (Ken Murphy) applied first-over pressure through three-quarters in 1:25.4, but Papis Rocket refused to surrender, digging in through the stretch to prevail by a quarter-length in 1:54.1. Arbitrage Hanover finished second while Hunters Hero (Landon Campbell) was third.
Mike Ramsay trains the winning four-year-old Papi Rob Hanover-Real Touch stallion for owners Derrill Murphy of Lethbridge, Alta., Max Webster Stable of Inverness, N.S., Jennifer Ritchie of Kingston, N.B. and Ryan MacLeod of Souris, P.E.I. Papis Rocket has won four straight races, including two Preferreds, and is seven-for-22 on the season. Saturday's win was his 14th lifetime in 58 lifetime outings, raising his bankroll to $739,240.
Dowling and Adam Merner each recorded driving triples on the 12-dash program.
Dowling also visited the winner's circle with Saltwater Captain ($4.90) in the second race, stopping the clock in 1:58.4 for trainer David Myers. The three-year-old Bet The Moon-Woodmere Dreams gelding is owned by Joanne MacRae of Fort Augustus, P.E.I., Myers of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Gwyneth McGuirk of Stratford, P.E.I. and Rick Adams of Charlottetown. Dowling completed his three-win afternoon in the finale as The Sports Desk ($3.30) controlled the tempo for a 2:00.4 victory. Tammy MacKay of Truro, N.S. trains and owns the five-year-old Sportswriter-Ladys Critic gelding.
Merner began his natural hat trick with Im From A Beach ($3.60) in the third race. The two-year-old Bettors Delight-Twin B Imabeach gelding captured his maiden victory in 2:02 for trainer David O’Brien and owner Jim Quinn of Mount Herbert, P.E.I. Merner returned to the winner's circle with Starship Glyde ($2.30), who took command early and paced away to victory in 1:57.4. Earl Watts trains the six-year-old son of Control The Moment-American Chocolate for Windemere Farms of Springvale, P.E.I. The third victory for Merner came aboard No Mo Fear ($6.20). The Paul Doyle trainee advanced first-over before taking command and holding off Ikes Dream (Jason Hughes) in 1:57.2. Doyle co-owns the four-year-old Fear The Dragon-Maureen Rocks gelding with Darla Jay of Charlottetown.
Live racing continues Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside Raceway.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)