Harness racing's Maritime stars were in the spotlight for their final stakes event of the 2013 season on Saturday afternoon as Red Shores' Charlottetown Driving Park hosted the $67,000 Island Breeders Championships.
Saulsbrook Pippa kicked off the stakes action with a victory in the $7,500 championship for two-year-old trotters.
Saulsbrook Pippa and Corey MacPherson followed the cover of Glencove Yoshi (Mike Stevenson) and battled on top with that rival when she cleared before the third quarter station. Saulsbrook Pippa then drew clear down the stretch to win by more than two lengths in 2:08.1. Ice Pop (Brian Andrew) inherited the show spot when original third-place finisher Southfield Shadow (Terry Gallant) was placed eighth for causing interference while on a break.
Saulsbrook Pippa was the 3-1 second choice to early breaker Phantom Beau and paid $8 to win.
Bred by Nova Scotia's Saulsbrook Stables Inc., the Pjs Nabby-Gabby Yankee filly is owned by her Hunter River, P.E.I. trainer John Pineau and Myron Ford of Harrington, P.E.I. The victory was her fourth in 11 starts and lifted her bankroll to $9,746.
Oceanview Kate was the only odds-on favourite to deliver during the Island Breeders Championships as she rallied wide from the backfield to defend her divisional title in the $7,500 three-year-old trot.
After tempo-setter Taliesin (Marc Campbell) broke stride at the third quarter mark, the oncoming Oceanview Kate and Mike Stevenson brushed by pocket-sitter Rash Statement (Brodie MacPhee) to prevail by one length in 2:04.1. Rash Statement stayed for second and Ashotinthedark (Corey MacPherson) finished third.
An Atlantic Breeders Crown winner in her last start, Oceanview Kate was the 3-2 favourite and paid $5.10 to win.
Bill Roloson of Belfast, P.E.I. trains and owns the Northern Bailey-King Kong Kate filly, who has won seven of her 10 starts this year while banking $23,118. She was bred by Meridian Farms of Calgary, Alta.
After playing second fiddle to track record holder Saulsbrook Alana in their last five stakes events, Elm Grove Inarush stole the spotlight in the $13,000 championship for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Driven by Mark Bradley, Elm Grove Inarush went wire-to-wire and held off the popular pocket-sitter Saulsbrook Alana (Marc Campbell) by three-quarters of a length in a career-best 1:57 flat. The 5-2 second choice paid $7.30 to win. Early trailer Sail Through (Gilles Barrieau) finished over nine lengths behind in third.
The Coastocoast Yankee-Seawind Alpha filly improved her career record to 6-6-1 in 14 starts and boosted her bankroll to $46,701 for her Kensington, P.E.I connections. She is owned by trainer Eddy Doucette and partners Blaine Thibeau, Gordon MacLeod and Grant Mann. New Brunswick's Seawind Amg Stbs 2005 Inc. bred the champion filly.
Settlement Request also earned his biggest career win in the $13,000 final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings as he defeated heavy favourite Dumas Walker.
With trainer Gilles Barrieau aboard, Settlement Request advanced first over from mid-pack and wore down Atlantic Breeders Crown and Maritime Breeders champion Dumas Walker (Myles Heffernan Sr.) to win by a nose in 1:59.2. Sent postward as the 2-1 second choice, the winner returned $5.90 to his backers. J J Laser (Marc Campbell) trailed six lengths behind in third.
Settlement Request now has a record reading 5-3-3 in 15 starts and earnings totalling $34,268 for New Brunswick owners Alfred Barrieau of Dieppe and Michael Clinton of Saint John. The Coastocoast Yankee-Bradelle gelding was bred by Charlottetown's Tammy Lee Sonier and Neil Bambrick.
Locally owned and bred Western Judy made her move approaching the third quarter mark and wore down the favourites to prevail in the $13,000 three-year-old pacing filly championship for trainer/driver Marc Campbell.
Western Judy rallied three-wide from third over and brushed by the battling Dianna Santanna (John Holmes) and pacesetter Top Brand (Danny Romo) for the 1:58.2 half-length victory. The 5-2 third choice paid $7.50 to win. Dianna Santanna finished second and Top Brand held on for third.
Blair Hansen's Articulator-West Wishes filly now sports a seasonal record reading 4-6-2 in 19 starts and earnings of $32,603. She was bred by Hilliard Graves.
Campbell completed a sweep of the sophomore pacing divisions as he steered Kevin MacLean trainee Forever Paradise wire-to-wire in the $13,000 colt and gelding championship.
The Western Paradise-Mariart gelding opened up a five length advantage around the final turn and held off the quick-closing favourite, The Rev (Danny Romo), by half a length at the wire in a career-best 1:56.1. The 5-2 second choice paid $7.10 to win. Jacobs Jackpot (Gilles Barrieau) came on for second over six lengths behind.
Forever Paradise now has a record of 6-7-0 in 19 seasonal starts with earnings climbing to $35,016 for owners Reginald MacPherson and David Mackenzie of Stratford, P.E.I., and Aaron Mackenzie of Winsloe, P.E.I. He was bred by Islanders Arthur and Colin Millar.
The second annual Drive for Charity was made official during Saturday's stakes card with the final total raised for local charities by drivers and their business partners amounting to $13,100.
Following the cheque presentation, driver Mike Stevenson, spokesperson for the drivers participating in the Drive for Charity promotion, joined Red Shores’ Lee Drake in the winner’s circle to announce a $1,200 donation on behalf of the drivers to the Toys for Tots Christmas campaign.
“It’s for the kids at Christmas,” said Stevenson. “We’re happy to make this donation and encourage others to help this campaign too.”
Official fundraising totals are listed below.
Driver, Business, Charity and Money Raised
Marc Campbell – Syntrak Print & Graphic Design – IWK - $1,000
Jason Hughes – Daniel R. Ross Ltd – Camp Gencheff - $1,000
Kenny Arsenault – Kwik Kopy – Easter Seals - $1,000
Brodie MacPhee – Long Run Exploration – Kids Sport Fund - $2,100
Mike Stevenson – Metro Building Supplies – Big Brothers/Big Sisters - $1,000
Corey MacPherson – Image Works – Rory Beck UPEI Outstanding Athletic Leadership - $1,000
Walter Cheverie – Noonan Petroleum – Prince County Hospital Foundation - $1,000
Mark Bradley – Rodd Hotels & Resorts – ALS - $1,000
Gary Chappell – Clarke Nissan – Oak Acres Children’s Camp - $1,000
Brian MacPhee – MacQuarrie’s Meats – PEI Family Violence Prevention Services Inc - $1,000
Terry Gallant – D&D Lawncare & Landscaping – PEI Humane Society - $1,000
Ron Matheson – MacRae Backhoe Trucking Inc – Muscular Dystrophy - $1,000
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)