Saulsbrook Balance improved his 2012 record to three wins in as many starts with another wire-to-wire victory in the $1,800 Open Trot at Charlottetown Driving Park on Thursday night.
Driver Willie Murphy fired Saulsbrook Balance to the lead from post two and carved out early fractions of :30.1 and 1:00 with Warrawee Jade and Brian Andrew parked and pressing before tiring in the third panel. As Saulsbrook Balance raced to three-quarters in 1:31.4, Juliare and Marc Campbell fanned three-wide around their fading cover, but the leader began to open up on top and was untouchable down the lane. Saulsbrook Balance cruised home to score in 2:02.1 by two lengths. The pylon-skimming Caliban Hanover and Ronnie Gass edged out Juliare for second place honours.
Saulsbrook Balance paid $5.60 to win as the bettors' choice. The seven-year-old Nikes Image-Animated Lady gelding is owned by trainer Cynthia MacDonald of Montague and Tanya MacKinnon of Souris, P.E.I. The victory was his 39th lifetime and pushed his bankroll over the $80,000 mark.
The biggest names in the sport of Maritime harness racing arrive Saturday to compete in the Cecil Ladner Memorial Pacing Series while the top three-year-old fillies and colts race in the Maritime Breeders eliminations.
The future stars, two-year-olds pacing colts and fillies, will be showcased at 11 a.m. on the track while fans get enjoy a family day atmosphere with a BBQ, face painting and cookie decorating on the trackside patio.
The series named in honour of Cecil Ladner, a former director with Harness Racing PEI and avid supporter of the industry, attracts the top guns on the Invitational circuit such as Outlawpositivcharg, Carnivore, Arabica and Chasin Racin, who has been established as the morning line favourite in the first elimination in race eight. The six-year-old star qualified last week in a rock solid 1:56.1 with a :28.2 closing panel for driver Earl Smith. Smith handles the driving duties for owners Jamie MacKinley and Jody and Larissa Sanderson.
The second elimination of the Ladner has former Gold Cup winner All The Weapons, Oakmont and Maritimer, who is six-for-nine in top three finishes this season. Oakrock Almighty has also entered for the event while fans see the return of Joseph Michael, P H Bestman, Windemere Express and Leading Candidate from the Don MacRae stable. Jason Hughes takes over training and driving duties from Robert Shepherd on the Ontario circuit.
Mr Thompson, with driver Mike Stevenson, is the favourite in the first division of the Maritime Breeders. The three-year-old colt toured Summerside in 1:56.2 in the Bob Dewar Memorial recently. First Art Down from the Steve Mason stable is the 5-2 morning line favourite in the other division.
There are three divisions of the Maritime Breeders Filly eliminations with April Dawns Star, Malabrigo and Southfield Sophie favoured in their respective divisions.
Post time for the race card is 6 p.m. The world broadcast is carried at www.redshores.ca.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)