Driver Danny Romo became just the third driver campaigning in the Maritimes to win 3,500 races with a victory aboard three-year-old pacing filly A As Glory during an action-packed harness racing card full of Maritime Breeders eliminations Saturday evening at Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 59-year-old Shubenacadie, N.S. reinsman joined the elite group of Steve Mahar and Gilles Barrieau in the 3,500-win club after A As Glory, who was shuffled back to last in the first $3,000 filly elimination, sprinted home in :29-seconds to win in 1:59.3 by a neck over Imaforce and Gilda.
Andrew Ward of Saint John, N.B. owns, trains and bred the Carlspur-Dies Morning Glory filly, who has won seven of her 13 races lifetime while banking over $20,000.
Reigning Maritime Breeders champion Malabrigo romped to a four length score in the second filly elim, stopping the clock in 1:58.4 in rein to trainer Marc Campbell. Miss Mercedes and Shes Astronomical finished second and third respectively. The Western Paradise-Lots Abunny filly is now a perfect four-for-four this year and boasts a record of 11 wins in 15 lifetime starts with nearly $63,000 earned for Buntainwood Farm of Brackley Beach, P.E.I.
Southfield Sophie turned back a challenge from Seeyouonthebeach en route to a 1:57.3 victory, her third in a row, in the final filly elim for trainer-driver Terry Gallant and owner Southfield Farms Inc. of Summerside, P.E.I. The Western Paradise-Ricotta Hanover filly defeated Oduya and J J Maywest by three and three-quarter lengths.
Mr Thompson rallied home in :27.4 to edge out Junebugs Baby by a neck in the first of two colt eliminations. Early leader Touch Of Lightning finished just a half-length behind in third. Driven by Mike Steveson for trainer Wade Sorrie, the Articulator-Yankee Checkers gelding stopped the clock in 1:57.1. Last year's Maritime Breeders champion is owned by Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud, P.E.I. and Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I.
With Brodie MacPhee in the bike, Lyndale Royal swept to command from fourth after the opening quarter and never looked back en route to a 1:58.4 victory in the other colt elim. Riccaras Star followed two lengths behind in second while Dukes Up rallied home for third. The Force Of Life-Royal Pursuit gelding is trained by Terry Affleck for owner David MacDonald of Belfast, P.E.I.
Saturday's card also featured a pair of $2,400 Cecil Ladner Memorial Pacing Series division, which were won by the Jason Hughes-driven and Anthony Stymest-trained Arabica in 1:56 and four-year-old Windemere Express, driven by John Holmes for trainer Earl Watts, in a career-best 1:55.2. Arabica, now four-for-seven in his five-year-old campaign, is owned by the Hardy Mill Stable of Stratford, P.E.I. while Windemere Express, a winner of three races in five seasonal starts, is owned by John Thompson of Charlottetown.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.