Sticking her nose out in the final strides, Sailor Blue hung on for victory in the Thursday (May 18) evening Open Trot at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Sent off at 3-1 post time odds in the $3,100 Open Trot, Sailor Blue set up shop on the front end for driver Ken Murphy and controlled the tempo through splits of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:28.3 while fighting off race favourite Jessiejesorjessica (Gilles Barrieau) in that third stanza. Sailor Blue then fended off a last second challenge from last week’s Open Trot winner New Legacy (Adam Merner) in the stretch to hang on in a photo finish with Jessiejesorjessica third.
Jeff Holmes trains Sailor Blue for the Montague trio of owners Cindy and Ambyr MacDonald along with Yossi Martonovich.
The $3,300 top pace of the night went to Ladylike (David Dowling) in 1:56 over Dreamfair Zenfire (Marc Campbell) and Woodmere Rollily (Merner). The winning pacing mare is co-owned and trained by Jennifer Doyle for co-owner Danny Birt of Earnscliffe, P.E.I.
Doyle also celebrated a win earlier on the program for the double as Elm Grove Mistress delivered for Ontario driver Damian MacLellan in 1:56.1.
JJ Kinley provided the upset of the evening in race five winning at 25-1 odds for trainer-driver Vaughan Doyle in 1:59.2.
Live racing continues Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown and on Monday, May 22 at 1 p.m. for a Holiday Victoria Day program to open the season at Red Shores Summerside.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)