Promise Me Later powered to the front and turned back all her rivals to win the $5,400 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Thursday, May 7.
Driven by Gilles Barrieau for trainer Luke Burke, Promise Me Later ($6.30) led at every station after releasing Elm Grove Mistress (Brady Sweet) to the front early and retaking the lead at the quarter. The daughter of Articulator-Promise Me Hanover cut fractions of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:28 before pacing home in 1:57 for owners Kingsley Walsh of Albany, P.E.I. and Frank Balcom of Amherst, N.S. The five-year-old held off a late rally from Therealprincess (Mike Downey) by two lengths while Elm Grove Mistress completed the $247.20 triactor. Promise Me Later is now 20-for-74 lifetime with a bankroll of $63,279.
Captain Highliner ($4.10) delivered one of the most dominant performances of the night in the fifth race to head a triple for trainer Jennifer Doyle. The five-year-old son of Captain Crunch-Rockn Highland swept to the lead in the final quarter and drew away to an 8-3/4-length victory in 1:57 for driver David Dowling and owner Max Webster Stable of Inverness, N.S. Freight Air (Brodie MacPhee) was second while Raising Sand (Adam Merner) finished third.
Doyle also scored with Moon Bound ($5.40), who continued her sharp form in the seventh race as Dowling guided the mare to a 1:57.2 score in the $4,350 event. The four-year-old nabbed her third straight victory for owners Gregory Kirby of Sidney, Maine and Nathaniel Smith of Holden, Maine. Redland Misspretty (Paul Langille) settled for second with Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson) third. Woodmere Sinatra ($3.60) came second-over in the eighth race to triple up trainer Doyle and driver Dowling in 2:01.1.
Doyle leads the Charlottetown standings with 18 wins on the season, giving her a lead of nine on Ron Matheson. Aiming for her fourth straight year as P.E.I.'s top dash-winning conditioner, she has a 26.9 per cent strike rate so far in 2026.
Staggerette ($2.80) remained undefeated in her career, winning her third start in the second race. MacPherson steered the Stag Party-Done Fooln Witcha filly to a 6-3/4-length romp in 1:58.4 for Kickin Horse Stable of Stratford, P.E.I., William Andrew of Calgary, Alta. and Kristy Andrew of Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Live racing continues on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)