Forever Paradise, driven by Mike McGuigan, made a successful season's debut in the $2,500 Preferred 2 featured on Saturday's (May 7) harness racing card at Charlottetown Driving Park.
Forever Paradise pulled off an 8-1 upset as he prevailed from the pocket in 1:56 flat, winning by one and a quarter lengths over the Terry Gallant-driven Silverhill Shadow, who was favoured in his first start of the year. DBS Roscoe was third in rein to Kenny Arsenault while first over Idealic Life, driven by Corey MacPherson, finished fourth with broken equipment.
Kevin MacLean trains the six-year-old Western Paradise gelding, who won 16 of his 35 starts and banked $25,904 in purses last year. Forever Paradise is owned by Reginald MacPherson and David Mackenzie of Stratford, P.E.I. and Aaron Mackenzie of Winsloe, P.E.I.
Wedgewood won the $1,800 Open Trot in his provincial debut for local horseman Glenn Claybourne. Driven by Gary Chappell, the eight-year-old Ken Warkentin gelding defeated slight favourite Holy Molie Maggie by half a length in 2:00.2, with Neal finishing third.
Open pacing mare Best Risque was back to her winning ways, rebounding from a seventh-place finish last week in her first start at the new meet. Moving out of the Preferred class, she went wire-to-wire in 1:57.1 with Jason Hughes in the sulky. Brian Ladner trains and co-owns the nine-year-old daughter of Cammibest, who is now six-for-seven on the year.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.