Bee Two Bee made a resounding statement on Thursday evening, June 12, in the $9,000 Cecil Ladner Memorial, presented by Ladner Source for Sports, headlining an action-packed card at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The eight-year-old son of Sunshine Beach-Bee Fullof Steinam unleashed a wicked closing kick to capture the Race 14 feature in 1:52.1 for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Ashley Gamester, pacing his final quarter in a sharp :27. Owned by Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge and Blair MacLauchlan of Charlottetown, Bee Two Bee ($5.40) earned his fifth victory of the season. Merigo Magic (Adam Merner) came up the passing lane on pacesetter Jackies Boy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) to finish second with Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) completing the top three in the hotly-contested dash.
Island Beach Boy won the first Ladner division last Saturday before this second split was was postponed due to heavy rains and thunderstorms that night.
One race earlier, Tobins Brownie ($17) pulled off an upset in the $4,350 Preferred Mares Pace, surging past the field late for driver-trainer Adam Merner. Co-owned by Springvale, P.E.I. residents Brittany Watts and Sandra Watts, the seven-year-old Stonebridge Terror-Putnam MacKenzie mare stopped the clock in 1:55.4. Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson) led from just past the quarter but settled for second, while Sugar Bowl (Barrieau) rounded out the top three in the classy mares affair.
The $3,850 Open Trot was in Race 6, where Buckhead Ridge ($2.90) powered to victory in 1:58 for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Landon Campbell. The five-year-old Nuncio-Tuonela gelding secured his fifth straight win to remain undefeated on P.E.I., for owner Brady Doyle of Stratford, P.E.I.
Earlier in the card, the All Star Cresting Trot Series kicked off in Race 2, where talented sophomore Bless Me Father ($3.30) captured his $4,500 division in 1:59.1 for driver Marc Campbell and owner-trainer Donna Van Meer of Mount Herbert, P.E.I. Arete Hanover (MacPherson) was second while Supreme Rockette (Barrieau) took third.
Live racing continues Saturday, June 14, at 6 p.m. (ADT) 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)