There's a reason purse money and pari-mutuel payouts are doled out after the race: because anything can happen and favourites aren't always locks to convert. Those age-old racing adages rang true during Saturday's card at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Saturday's card featured some of the top older horses in the region competing in the $1,700 Open Trot and the $2,250 Preferred 2 Pace. In each of these events, a horse overlooked by the betting public was able to connect at substantial odds.
Holy Molie Maggie was favoured in the $1,700 Open Trot by virtue of her strong seasonal summary and recent success in the class with two wins in her last three tries. And driver Corey MacPherson certainly had her in position to add to that total with a confident first-over grind against pacesetter Wedgewood (Gary Chappell) that resulted in a one-length lead at the head of the stretch. But another foe in the field had an upset in mind.
Dusty Lane Jacob and driver Ken Murphy had followed Holy Molie Maggie in her outer flow stalk of the leader, and was poised to pounce at the head the lane after being towed into the race on the favourite's helmet. After a fierce stretch battle, Dusty Lane Jacob -- the longest price on the toteboard at odds greater than 11-1 -- pulled off the upset by hitting the wire a neck to the good in 2:02.1. Holy Molie Maggie finished a valiant second with early leader Wedgewood completing the top three.
Trained by Cynthia MacDonald, Dusty Lane Jacob (Nureyev - Starinthesky) is in themidst of his best year at the age of five. From 32 seasonal starts, Dusty Lane Jacob sports a summary of 6-3-8 and earnings in excess of $9,200 for co-owners MacDonald and Tanya Mac Kinnon.
Heart And Soul capitalized on an equipment break by favoured Silverinyourpocket to capture the $2,250 Preferred 2 Pace. Walter Cheverie claimed the early lead with Heart And Soul before yielding to the public choice Silverinyourpocket (Jason Hughes). With Silverinyourpocket faltering late, Cheverie was in the right place at the right time and a :29.4 final quarter sealed the deal for a 1:58.3 score. Goliath Reigns (Dale Spence) was a length back in second, just ahead of Weather Hanover (Gilles Barrieau).
Cheverie trains Heart And Soul (Western Paradise - Mighty Sassy) for Riley Farms of Summerside, PEI. The win for Heart And Soul was his third straight and 20th lifetime, lifting his career purse earnings to $86,500.
To view the charts from Saturday's card at Charlottetown Driving Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.