Flemsteen trotted the fastest mile in the history of the Charlottetown Driving Park as he made his Prince Edward Island — and Canadian — debut in the $5,000 Open Trot on Thursday, June 11.
He lined up in post four, one spot to the inside of heretofore trotting record holder Fight Song, and out-sprinted that foe off the wings for Ken Murphy to lead into the first turn. Fight Song (Jason Hughes) drove on and took over at the quarter in :28.2, then called the shots through middle-half fractions :56.4 and 1:26.1 with he and Flemsteen pulling clear of the rest racing into the last turn. Murphy produced Flemsteen midway through the bend, and the eight-year-old barrelled past Fight Song down the lane, beating him by 2-1/4 lengths while wiping his name from the record books as he put up 1:54.2 on the timer. Buckhead Ridge (Marc Campbell) finished third.
The clocking shaved a tick off the previous standard set by Fight Song last October in the Island Oceans Trot Challenge final.
Flemsteen shipped in from Ohio to the barn of trainer Jennifer Doyle following his acquisition by Max Webster Stable of Inverness, N.S., Jeffrey Skinner of Hammonds Plains, N.S., Derrill Murphy of Lethbridge, Alta. and Clair Murphy of Millvale, P.E.I. The son of Explosive Matter-Lost Symbol won his last two starts at Northfield Park — on March 29 and April 6 — and is now four-for-12 this year. He has amassed 35 wins and $843,644 in earnings in 153 career starts. Sent off as the favourite on Thursday, he returned $3.40.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Standardbred Canada)