In a duel to the finish, Avatar J prevailed in the $3,200 Preferred Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday (June 13).
Driver Jason Hughes pointed the Danny MacDonald trainee to the lead and cleared to the first quarter in :27.4 as Beyondthesilence N yielded for the pocket. Avatar J cruised through the next split in :57 but then came under pressure, fighting Rose Run Quest and Screen Test to three-quarters in 1:26.1. Rose Run Quest faltered to third but Screen Test kept up the pressure on the pacesetter through the stretch, finishing short of the winner. Rose Run Quest took third third.
Avatar J is owned by Dean Larkin and Jody Sanderson.
Bugsy Maguire walked away with the evening's co-featured class, giving driver Brodie MacPhee his first win since returning to driving (MacPhee's last victory came on Aug. 3, 2014). Bugsy Maguire, the 2019 Cecil Ladner Memorial champion, toured the capital oval in 1:56.1 for trainer Wade Sorrie and owner Walter Simmons.
Driver Adam Merner scored a driving triple on the night including a pair of victories for trainer Melissa Rennie. Likely To Win won Race 2 in 1:57.2, then Maritime Champion Windemere Ryan captured the finale in a lifetime best of 1:56.2 to kick off his three-year-old season. Merner’s other victory came with Legendary Ron in an on-the-front score of 1:57.1 for owner Douglas Matheson.
Marc Campbell had a pair of training wins on the card as Time To Dance won his East Coast debut in 1:55.2 and veteran pacer Eagle Jolt won in 1:57.2.
The track crew had the historic oval in top-notch shape as the slowest dash of the 10-race card was recorded in 1:57.4 in possibly the fastest program since the track opened in 1888. Handle for the Saturday program was $55,334.
(Red Shores Charlottetown)
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.