Century Invictus laid down the law early and Middleton Terror turned on the jets late in their respective victories on a busy Monday, May 19 afternoon season opener on Victoria Day at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The 12-dash presentation kicked off with a convincing win from pacer Century Invictus ($4.20) for local owner Madison Rogers and trainer Nicholas Oakes. Norris Rogers steered the six-year-old Bettors Delight pacer to an open-length victory in 1:59.4, controlling every fraction and sprinting clear by five lengths for his first win of the season. The pocket-sitting Emperor (Ken Murphy) finished second while Legendary Ron (Corey MacPherson) closed late to complete the ticket.
In the race 11 feature, Middleton Terror ($4.60) stamped himself as the class of the field with a wire-to-wire domination in 1:55.3 for driver David Dowling and trainer Jennifer Doyle. The Stonebridge Terror six-year-old left no doubt as he rolled through fractions of :28.3, :58 and 1:27 before sprinting home in 28.3 for a four-length win. Newcomer Rose Run X Con (Rogers) was a game second while Brookdale Johnny (Paul Langille) completed the $504.20 triactor ticket. Kingsley Walsh co-owns the winning pacer with Frank Balcom.
The win was part of a training double for Doyle, who also clicked in race eight with Elm Grove Mistress ($7) and driver Dowling in 1:58.2 to secure the early lead in the training standings.
Corey MacPherson recorded a driving triple on the card, with Louie The Great ($2.10) to a 2:00.1 victory in race three for trainer Les Waite, Mikita ($3.10) in race five in 2:00.2 for a maiden score for trainer Blaine McKenna, and Almost Amos ($3.60) in race six from the Dwane MacEachern barn in 2:00.
Murphy also tripled up steering Molly Malone ($2.70) in the second race for trainer Fred Paynter in a 2:02.2 maiden-breaking score, while Little Leroy ($4) took the fourth in a sharp 1:55.1 for conditioner Joseph Baxter and Sauble Attack won the race 12 finale in 1:57.1 for trainer Paul Biggar.
Live racing returns continues on Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)