Smiley Bayama topped off a stellar day at the office for the Dusty Lane Farms and trainer Ronnie Gass, taking the Saturday afternoon (December 17) feature at Red Shores Charlottetown.
The post relief was a long time coming for Smiley Bayama, but it showed today. The eight-year-old son of Aces Up used rail control to dictate the fractions for pilot Adam Merner and win in dominate fashion.
The Gass trainee hooked up in an early battle with the gate-chasing Best Risque through :29.4 over the off going, then it was time to grind with Eagle Jolt through 1:01.1 and three-quarters of 1:31. His eighth win of the season was scored in 2:01.1.
The win tripled up Gass as a trainer, doubled up Shelley and Alexis Gass as owners and doubled up driver Merner.
The winning didn’t stop there for the Dusty Lane Farms crew, who have had a big season this year. Don MacNeill scored with his trainee Nashurallability, and Corey Macpherson hit the winner’s circle three times including two for the Gass clan.
Freddie and driver Marc Campbell used a second quarter brush to take control of the Open Trot and put forth a sparkling effort in 2:02.4. The four-year-old son of Majestic Son added to his win total, which stands at 17, giving him the most wins for a trotter on Canadian soil this year.
Campbell, who is up for the O’Brien Award for Horsemanship, is the trainer for the Three Wisemen Stable.
The Orwell, P.E.I. native added to his record-setting total for most wins in a single season at Red Shores by returning two others back to the winner’s enclosure. He lifted the current number to 134.
Red Shores will take a slight hiatus from racing next weekend and will return to action on Monday, Dec. 26. Post time is 12:30 p.m.
The total for the afternoon wager was $46,433.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)