After grabbing four runner-up performances in her first eight starts of the season, Private Joke finally broke through for a winning effort in her ninth kick of the can on Thursday at Red Shores Charlottetown
.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering in the $2,200 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, Private Joke got away slowly but finished with plenty of zip en route to posting the win for driver Marc Campbell.
Campbell tucked the five-year-old Western Ideal-San Sophia miss into the six hole while General Luckypercy shot to the top and supplied the field with first-half fractions of :28.4 and :59.1. J K Special came first-over on the leader on the way to the mid-way point, and Private Joke latched onto that foe’s cover.
J K Special had the lead over General Luckypercy while racing parked at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.4, with Private Joke still riding her coattails from second-over. J K Special couldn’t fend off Private Joke in the lane, however, as the eventual winner used a :29.1 closing panel to seal the deal by a length over J K Special, with Dreaming coming on strong to finish third.
Earl Watts trains the mare for the PEI partnership of Wade Peconi, Windemere Farms and John Howatt. The 12-time winner has stashed away more than $135,000 in lifetime earnings.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Red Shores Charlottetown.