Little Leroy delivered the shock of the night in the $7,600 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Gold Series during possibly the fastest race card in the history of Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday, June 21.
Sent off at 17-1 in the lone $7,600 division, presented by Kay’s Wholesale, the four-year-old son of Source Of Pride-Chorale Hanover rallied up the passing lane after :27.4, :56, and 1:24.1 fractions to collar pacesetter Island Beach Boy (Jason Hughes) and win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.2 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Joe Baxter. Brookdale Johnny (Marc Campbell) completed the $280.70 triactor.
Little Leroy returned $36.60 for the win ticket as he prevailed for owners Baxter of Spring Valley, P.E.I., Marion Stewart of Albany, P.E.I., Brian Ramsay of Summerside, P.E.I., and BMD Memorial Stable of Crapaud, P.E.I. He is now three-for-four this season.
Save America ($4.70) was incredible again in Preferred 1 action as the Jamie Smith trainee led all the way with :26.4, :54.1, and 1:23 panels to win in 1:50.4 in the $5,500 class for driver Murphy and owner Thestable.ca for the pacer’s second straight P.E.I. win. Bee Two Bee (Hughes) sat second and finished there with Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) third.
Save America, a five-year-old by Captaintreacherous-My Lady Day, has won three straight and four of 12 this season.
Murphy had a driving triple on the program in which the last 13 races all went in 1:55.4 or faster.
In the first $5,200 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series Grassroots division, Howmac Exclusive ($7.70) converted a pocket trip into a 1:55.3 score for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Les Waite, who co-owns the son of Source Of Pride-Howmac Impeccable with Jim Gorman and Leith Waite. Good Omen (Paul Langille) was 1-1/2 lengths behind in second, followed by Lovemattersmost (Jaycob Sweet).
In the other split, Jack Boswall ($2.40) and driver Marc Campbell went all the way in 1:53.4 for trainer Keith MacDonell, who shares ownership with Mark MacDonell and Blenise Young. The Tobago Cays-Someshoresomewhere gelding prevailed by 2-1/4 lengths over Majestic Mason (Brady Sweet) with Impeccable Shadow (Langille) rounding out the top three.
High Voltage Deo ($2.80) provided a head turner in Race 9, winning in 1:52 for trainer Brendan Curran as the five-year-old Sweet Lou gelding preps for the July 13 Governor’s Plate eliminations at Red Shores Summerside. Corey MacPherson was in the seat for the score.
Elroy Shiner ($5) and Imalookertoo ($2.40) delivered solid front-end victories in the Race 6 Fedex Pace and Race 7, respectively. Both were trained by Jeff Holmes, giving the Orwell horseman a Saturday double along with driver Brady Sweet.
Live racing continues Tuesday, June 24 at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)