Off the pace was the recipe for success for Smart Official in the featured Boxing Day pace on Saturday afternoon at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Creepin (Driven by David Dowling) cut out the early fractions in the $2,500 feature over a sloppy track with splits of :29.1 and 1:00.3. That leader then came under siege by Sports Royalty (Gilles Barrieau) first on the outside with race favourite Smart Official and driver Jason Hughes following the flow second-over. The three-quarters was reached in 1:31.4 with the field tightening up in the final stanza as Smart Official found his way through to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:02. Sports Royalty was second with Creepin third.
Driver Corey MacPherson made a trio of visits to the historic winner’s circle including a pair of win from the Joe MacDonald barn. Agood Time To Rock was a 2:01.4 victor for MacPherson and MacDonald as well as Dreas Good Powow in a five-length victory in 2:02.3. MacPherson also found the wire first in the $2,800 Fillies and Mares Open pace with the Marc Campbell-trained Filly Forty Seven in 2:01.2.
Barrieau guided Labero to victory in the $2,350 Open trot with an open length score of 2:03.4 for trainer Randy Van Meer and owner Donna Van Meer of Bowmanville, Ont.
Young Drunk Punk captured the Painted Desert retirement pace in race 12 of the afternoon stopping the clock in 2:01.4 for driver Dowling and trainer Ron Gass. Reaching the mandatory retirement age of 15 next week, Painted Desert finishes his career with 33 lifetime wins and $65,226 in purse earnings with a lifetime best of 1:55.3 taken over the CDP at age six.
Kenny Arsenault celebrated a training and driving double as he steered trainees Lock Her Up (2:03.1) and JK Express (2:02.4) to victories.
Live racing continues New Year’s Eve at 6:30 p.m.
(CDP)
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.