Sugar Bowl kept the ball rolling following her win in the Ages Pacing Mares Series with a 1:55 victory in the $6,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred 1 Pace at Charlottetown Driving Park on Thursday, June 18.
The seven-year-old followed Windemere Saddy (Ken Murphy) on the rim into the first turn and carried her momentum past that opponent to take over at the quarter in :27.2. She led the field single file through fractions of :56.4 and 1:26.4 for Marc Campbell and held off Windemere Saddy down the lane to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson) completed the top three.
Sugar Bowl is two-for-four this season for trainer David O’Brien and owner Brian MacPhee of Mount Stewart, P.E.I. The daughter of Sweet Lou-Well Read improved her stats to 27 wins and $166,145 in earnings in 105 appearances. She returned $3.50.
In the second chapter of what looks to be a brewing rivalry, Fight Song withstood the charge of last week’s record-breaking winner Flemsteen to capture the $5,000 Open Trot.
The race shook out similarly to the previous clash, with Flemsteen (Ken Murphy) claiming the first lead and Fight Song driving on past him at the quarter in :29.2. Fight Song, driven by Jason Hughes, proceeded without challenge through the half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:29, with the advance of Buckhead Ridge (Marc Campbell) spurring the pacesetter to up the tempo heading into the final turn. The leader halted that foe’s bid at the top of the lane, but Flemsteen launched into the passing lane and made headway into deep-stretch. With that rival, who broke his all-age trotting record a week ago, barrelling up at the pylons, Fight Song dug in and denied him by a nose to prevail in 1:56.4. Buckhead Ridge finished third.
Fight Song, a 10-time winner in 2025, tallied for the first time this season in four outings for trainer Ashley Gamester and owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. The seven-year-old gelded son of Kadabra-Fortunes Of Fables is now 34-for-135 lifetime with $256,923 in earnings. He paid $8.90 to win.
The All Star Cresting Trot Series for three-year-olds kicked off with a pair of $5,750 splits. West River Karuna recovered from a break to win his sophomore debut in the first division and Hallysgurl dominated the second.
Ken MacDonald had West River Karuna away in a gapped pocket behind Miss Gracie Ridge (Ambyr Campbell), who ceded control to Big Rig (Mike McGuigan) at the quarter in :29.3. West River Karuna put in steps behind that early tussle, then went on a break at the first station and dropped back to fourth before regaining his gait, with Big Rig leading a strung-out field past the half in :58.3. The four horses in contention regrouped as they came down the backstretch, and West River Karuna launched into the breeze going to three-quarters in 1:29.4. He flushed out Miss Gracie Ridge but declined the cover, instead firing three-high and rallying past Big Rig to a 1-1/2-length win in 2:00.2. Dusty Lane Margo (Jason Hughes) finished third.
West River Karuna, a winner of multiple Maritime stakes at two, is now five-for-12 lifetime and has earned $40,472. The son of Legion Of Honor-Pannacotta Hanover races for trainer Clare MacDonald and owner Haley MacDonald of Charlottetown, P.E.I. He paid $3.90 to win.
Hallysgurl motored to the top early in the second division and enjoyed an open-length margin throughout. She reeled off fractions of :30, 1:00.3 and 1:30.2 and cruised to a 5-1/4-length victory in 1:59.2. Hoponarocket (Mike McGuigan) took second over Roseys El Girl (Jason Hughes).
Hallysgurl, a daughter of Muscle Mass-Incredible Hally, has won both of her starts this year after going four-for-seven as a rookie. She has earned $33,512 for trainer Darryl MacLean and owners Calvin Larkin of Mermaid, P.E.I. and Erika Bradley of Charlottetown. Win tickets cashed in for $2.50.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Standardbred Canada)