The Maritime Breeders eliminations for three-year-old pacers and a pair of Cecil Ladner Memorial Series eliminations for invitational stars highlighted Charlottetown Driving Park’s race card on Saturday night
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War Dancer remains undefeated in six career starts after converting a perfect pocket trip into a 1:56 score for trainer/driver Mike Stevenson in the fastest $3,000 Maritime Breeders elim for the boys. The Western Paradise colt took a new mark when he prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Porthill Gatsby (Todd Trites) and Dov Bears Dream (Mary Clare MacDonald). War Dancer is owned by Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud, Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I. and Charles Seymour of Fredericton, N.B.
Porthill Galaxy also took a new mark in the first elimination for coltsand geldings winning by a neck in 1:57.2 over Island Historic (Todd Trites) while Extreme Measure (Mike Stevenson) finished third. Duane MacEachern trains the Force Of Life colt for owner and breeder Marvyn Webster of Kensington, P.E.I.
Woodmere Fastball turned in a 1:58.1 career-best winning effort in the following elim for trainer/driver Allan Earl Smith. The son of Western Success, owned by David Lund of Moncton, N.B. rallied off second-over cover to win by three and three-quarter lengths over Urge To Win (Shane Bernard) and Blackriver Wildcat (Mike Stevenson).
Southview Spirit was the fastest filly winning her elimination in 1:56.3 in rein to Walter Cheverie. The daughter of Western Paradise, who is trained by Charles McGee for Elwood Lawton of Stratford and Arleen Harris of Cornwall, P.E.I, advanced first over en route to her fourth win in four starts this year. Chris N Tel Arrow (Bernard McCallum) finished three and three-quarter lengths back in second with the early pacesetter N Xample Deal (Norris Rogers) rounding out the top three.
Driven by Todd Trites, Shadow Dancer rallied from fifth to first in the stretch for the 15-1 upset in her elim. The Western Paradise filly trained and co-owned by Doug Hill nosed out R Es Mary (Allan Earl Smith) to win in a career-best 1:57.3. Run Them Down (Gilles Barrieau) finished right there in third.
Fan favourite Astronomical was the wire-to-wire winner in the first of two $2,400 Cecil Ladner Memorial Series eliminations. Driven by Ken Arsenault for trainer and part-owner Dr. Ian Moore, the son of Astreos prevailed by a half-length in 1:56.3 over San Marco Hanover (Ryan Ellis). Riccaras Sun (Mike Stevenson) rounded out the top three. The winner of 37 races and $757,558 in purses is now two-for-two in his seven-year-old campaign.
St Pete Star posted a mild 5-1 upset in the fastest elim for trainer/driver Danny Romo. The five-year-old son of Life Sign battled with the odds-on favourite, Outlawpositivcharg (Terry Gallant), through the middle panels before pulling ahead in the stretch to win in 1:55.2 while Mighty And Strong (Gilles Barrieau) closed well to finish three-quarters of a length back in second forcing Outlawpositivcharg to settle for third. Paul Gray of Pugwash, N.S. owns St Pete Star, who has won two races this year and 16 in his career good for $260,456 in purse earnings.
To view Saturday's results, click here.