Driver David Dowling made a winner's circle appearance for the 2,000th time, guiding trainee Sahara Sunshine to victory on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Dowling sat two victories short of the 2,000 win mark heading into Saturday's card. He posted back-to-back tallies, winning the 10th race with Fern Hill Indigo before scoring the milestone win aboard Sahara Sunshine in Race 11.
Fresh off a record-setting season at Red Shores Summerside, Dowling is enjoying a career best year in the sulky. The Springvale, P.E.I. resident has already achieved personal bests in wins (201) and purses ($671,513) while his 0.403 UDRS ranks tied for fourth overall in North America for drivers with 500+ seasonal starts.
It was nothing but open air for a front-running Tobins Brownie in the Saturday afternoon feature. The six-year-old daughter of Stonebridge Terror led all the way in the $3,700 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace to win in 1:56.4 over Sugar Bowl (Driven by Gilles Barrieau) and Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson). Marc Campbell, who recorded five winners on the card, drove the winning pacer for trainer Earl Watts and owners Brittany Watts, Sandra Weeks and Erroll Burgoyne.
The Joe and Steven MacRae Memorial Fall Series, presented by MacRae Backhoe and Trucking, also featured four dashes in its second leg.
Power Of Four (Marc Campbell) won the first $4,500 division in Race 1 with a 2:00.2 clocking for owner-trainer Irwin Neill of Charlottetown over Grand Ave Legend (Jason Hughes) and Starship Glyde (Adam Merner).
Poplar Artie (Marc Campbell) won his third straight in his $4,500 Horses and Geldings MacRae Memorial division in 1:58.3 for trainer Lenny Myers and owners Liam and Matt Myers of Stratford. Luigi Bizacko (Steven Murphy) was second with Justcallmedoc (Keith Ford) third.
Southern Heart (MacPherson) prevailed in her $4,500 MacRae Memorial Fillies and Mares division for owners Elmer Campbell and Jackie Cooper and trainer Ron Matheson. Time of the mile was 2:01.3 with Red Dirt Diamond (Brett Clow) and Heatherspet (Adam Merner) completing the triactor.
Rosieallover (MacPherson) gave owner-trainer Carson Wilkie his first career training win in a $4,500 MacRae Memorial division in 2:01.2 with Watch Her Go (Marc Campbell) second and Sagali (Mark Bradley) third.
Winter Blast and driver Santa Claus were much the best in an exhibition match race over Sports Icon with The Grinch in tow.
Live harness racing continues Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. (AST) at Red Shores Charlottetown. For results from Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Red Shores Charlottetown.
(with files from Red Shores)