The first stakes card of the season was held Sunday at Red Shores Summerside with the running of the Ruby Chappell Stakes for three-year-old fillies and the Bob Dewar Memorial Stakes event for three-year-old pacing colts.
Three Pink Bows and driver Danny Romo delivered as the post time favourites in the $5,500 opening division of the Ruby Chappell in 1:59.4 for conditioner Doug Rankin while the Stephen Mason-trained Jann Down took her Chappell assignment in 1:58.4 for Gilles Barrieau, who had a driving triple on the program.
The other winners in the Ruby Chappell included Elm Grove Joanette in 2:00.3 for trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault, with undefeated filly Invader M closing out the Chappell Memorial splits with her third victory in a row, also in 2:00.3, for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Kevin MacLean.
Marc Campbell, who enjoyed a driving hat-trick on the 14-dash program, teamed up with the partnership of MacPherson/MacLean aboard the multiple Maritimes stakes champion Dixieland Band to win a $6,300 division of the Bob Dewar Memorial in 1:56.1, the fastest mile of the day. Campbell also claimed stakes hardware with his own trainee Proven Desire, a 1:58 winner.
The other winners in the Dewar Stakes included BNGS Express in 1:59.4 for Romo and the Sifroi Melanson trainee Ultimatelyhandsome in 2:00.2 for Arsenault’s second score.
In other action, American Captain closed out the program with a 1:59.2 two length victory for driver Walter Cheverie, trainer Mike Campbell and owner Ronald Joy of Fredericton, N.B. Campbell has moved his base to Summerside Raceway.
Total wager on the program was $37,676.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)