Sock It Away failed to secure his 19th consecutive victory as Czar Seelster nailed the odds-on favourite by a neck to win the $2,650 Preferred Handicap at Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Driver Kenny Arsenault sent the Gregory Weatherbee trainee to the lead from post two and posted a :29.3 opening quarter while Sock It Away raced from fourth. Sock It Away soon tipped off the rail and progressed towards the temposetter through a :59.1 half.
Czar Seelster continued to park the favourite before losing the lead nearing three-quarters. Timed in 1:28.1, Sock It Away owned a two-length lead into the stretch but could not withstand the stretch bid from Czar Seelster as the nine-year-old Stonebridge Regal stallion hit the wire first in the 1:57.2 mile. Sock It Away settled for second while Winter Blast finished three lengths back in third.
Owned by Tammy Johnston, Czar Seelster won his ninth race from 29 starts this season and his 33rd from 169 overall, earning $209,948. He paid $10.70 to win.
Longest-shot-on-the-board Salmonier Storm set the pace and endured first-over pressure to take the $2,350 Preferred 2 Pace in 2:00.4 at odds of 24-1.
Starting from post one, trainer-driver Ambyr Campbell pushed for control and led I C True Grit to a :30.1 first quarter. Machinthesand, racing fourth, angled first over to challenge the pacesetter passing the half in 1:01.2 and managed to stick a neck in front of the leader passing three-quarters in 1:31.3.
The two remained neck and neck into the stretch before Machinthesand retreated and Salmonier Storm strolled to the finish one-and-a-half lengths better than favourite I C True Grit. Nogreatmischief, tracking the pocket sitter, took third.
Returning $51.10 to win, Salmonier Storm won his ninth race from 33 starts this season and his 24th from 95 overall, earning $27,718. Brian MacPhee owns the seven-year-old Western Ideal gelding.
Killean Finale kicked widest of her competition rounding the final turn and surged to a two-length victory in the $2,350 Fillies and Mares Open Pace.
Away sixth at the quarter, Killean Finale sat off a :29 first quarter set by Julep Hanover on the lead. Collective Wisdom, sitting the pocket, circled to the lead before hitting the half in :59.2 while Elektra Express, tracking the move, then raced first over to the backstretch.
Elektra Express pressed Collective Wisdom to three-quarters in 1:29.2 while Julep Hanover sat the pocket. Prettyndangerous, from second over, ranged three wide into the final turn as Killean Finale fanned from the pylons towards the center of the course nearing the top of the stretch. Prettyndangerous overtook Collective Wisdom into the lane before Killean Finale flew past to win in 1:59.4. Prettyndangerous held off Collective Wisdom for second.
A five-year-old mare by Sportswriter, Killean Finale won her fifth race from 24 starts this season and her 15th from 83 overall, earning $178,138. Clifford Murphy trains the $5.60 winner for owner Dr. Mary McNiven and Pacemaker Stable. Ken Murphy sat in the bike.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
So with a month left in the
So with a month left in the year, Sock It Away remains tied for 6th in North America for wins in 2018, with 18. Leader Southwind Amazon, who has 20, has the week off, and two horses ahead of him, Shartin N and Always A Prince, have been turned out.