Malabrigo kept her undefeated sophomore record in tact with a career-best effort in the $33,085 Maritime Breeders Final for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday at Charlottetown Driving Park.
With Miss Mercedes scratched, outsider Malabrigo was able to move in one post position for the first stakes final on the card, named in honour of the late Ken Starrett. The Western Paradise-Lots Abunny miss, trained and driven by Marc Campbell, worked her way to command over fellow elimination winner Glory A As (Gilles Barrieau) during the :28.3 opening quarter.
Reigning Maritime Breeders champion Malabrigo proceeded to lead the field of seven through middle panels of :57.2 and 1:27.4 while J J Maywest (Mike Stevenson) advanced first over from sixth with another elimination winner and slight favourite Southfield Sophie (Terry Gallant) recovering from an early break and following her cover.
Malabrigo turned back J J Maywest before the stretch and dug in down the lane for the one and a quarter length 1:57.2 triumph over the pocket-pulling A As Glory. Gilda (Walter Cheverie) came on from the backfield for third.
Malabrigo paid $4.60 to win for the fifth consecutive time this year. The victory improved her lifetime record to 12-3-1 in 16 starts and boosted her bankroll to nearly $80,000 for Buntainwood Farm's Derek and Dianne Buntain of Brackley Beach, P.E.I.
Two races later, Junebugs Baby converted a pocket trip into his biggest win yet in the $23,450 Maritime Breeders Final for sophomore pacing colts, which honoured the late Doug Harkness.
With Greg Sparling in the bike, the Western Paradise-Carols June Bug colt was the quickest off the gate from post five in the eight-horse field, but settled for a two-hole trip as Touch Of Lightning (Earl Smith) rolled to the front before the :29.1 first quarter mark.
Touch Of Lightning proceeded to the half in :58.4 and three-quarters in 1:28.2 while Astronomical Union (Marc Campbell) advanced first up from fifth with Dukes Up (Gilles Barrieau) and elimination winner Mr Thompson (Mike Stevenson) following him to the outside and fanning wide.
Touch Of Lightning drew clear on top entering the stretch, but couldn't hold off the pocket-pulling Junebugs Baby, who swept by to score in 1:56.3 by one and a quarter length. The time of the mile matched Junebugs Baby's lifetime mark. Touch Of Lightning had to settle for second while early trailer First Art Down (Stephen Mason) finished four lengths behind in third.
Junebugs Baby, a runner-up in his elimination last weekend, paid $5.80 to win. He is trained, bred and co-owned by Fraser Turnbull and partner John Turnbull Jr. of Glace Bay, N.S. Junebugs Baby now boasts a record reading 8-2-1 in 11 outings and lifetime earnings of more than $30,000.
Saturday's $8,200 final of the Cecil Ladner Memorial Pacing Series was won by the popular Arabica and driver Kenny Arsenault for trainer Anthony Stymest and the Hardy Mill Stable of Stratford, P.E.I.
Epanephrine (Todd Trites) and Oakmont (Danny Romo) locked in an early duel for the lead from the two inside posts during the :27.4 first quarter while Arabica, fresh off an elimination win, watched the action from second. Oakmont eventually took back into a gapping three-hole leaving Epanephrine alone on top as he raced to the half in :57.1.
Oakrock Almighty (Gilles Barrieau) advanced first over from fifth during the third panel and went head-to-head with the leader as they raced by three-quarters in 1:26. Down the stretch, the backfield begin to close in on Epanephrine with Arabica rallying out wide for the half-length victory in 1:55.3. Carvniore (John Holmes) came on for second while Epanephrine finished third.
Arabica paid $8.50 to win. The five-year-old Pro Bono Best-Chattanooga gelding notched his fifth win seven Maritime starts and 10th lifetime.
In regular racing action, Caliban Hanover won this week's $1,800 Open Trot by one length over the streaking Saulsbrook Balance (Willie Murphy) in 2:01.2 for trainer-driver Ronnie Gass and owner Wendell MacDonald of Cornwall, P.E.I.
The Dale Sobey-trained Aled Hanover romped to a six and three-quarter length score in the $2,200 Preferred Pace in 1:55.4. Alex Sobey was in the bike for the pacer's new owner Ronald Hall of Wallace, N.S.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.