JM Sportsfan was missionized from the start as she paced to victory in Thursday evening's Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Steven Shepherd sent his father Harold Shepherd’s trainee to the lead and never gave up an inch on his way to a two-length victory aboard JM Sportsfan in 1:54.1.
The $3,300 class produced fractions of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:26 with Dreamfair Zenfire (driven by Marc Campbell) coming first-up to finish second ahead of Ladylike (David Dowling). Harold Shepherd shares the ownership of the winning mare with Angus Birt, Maurice McCabe and Wayne MacPherson.
Campbell was the hot driver of the evening with four trips to the winner’s circle as he continues to lead the driving standings at the Capital oval. Campbell opened the card up winning race one with Ms Chantalmachabay (1:57.2) for trainer Ken Wilkie, followed by a race three score with Ralph Sweet’s Shes A Comedian (1:58). Race six saw more Campbell as Shes So Sweet (1:55.4) was a winner from the Colin Johnson barn and Campbell’s own Freddie (2:01) won race eight for the trotter’s 82nd lifetime win.
Trainer Johnson also won the $3,100 Open Trot as Adam Merner steered New Legacy to victory in 1:58.1 over Jessiejesorjessica (Gilles Barrieau) and Sailor Blue (Ken Murphy).
Merner scored three wins on the night visiting the winner’s circle with You Aint Dolly in a new career-best of 1:55.2 for trainer Brendan Curran and with Lil Reeses Pieces (2:00) for a maiden-breaking score from the Melissa Rennie stable.
Johnson had a training triple on the night, also sending out Ill Tell Me Ma (Corey MacPherson) to a 1:57.1 win in the $2,800 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3.
Live harness racing continues Saturday evening at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown with the launch of the Red Shores All Star Handicapping Challenge.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)