Living up to his name, Roll Em surprised no one in taking the $4,000 Preferred 1 Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday evening (June 8). The six-year-old bay pacing gelding paid $2.10 to win, having been bet down to 1-9.
Driver Marc Campbell took full advantage of post one to secure a good spot from the start, keeping All Bets On Tex (Adam Merner) parked around the first turn. All Bets On Tex briefly made the lead on the backstretch before Roll Em made a give and go move to retake the lead at the end of a :27.3 first quarter. Roll Em led the field single file in program order through a half in :56.4. Blood Money (Mike Downey) came first-over on the approach to the 5/8-mile mark, with Fern Hill General (Brodie MacPhee) and Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) within three lengths of the lead as Roll Em reached three-quarters in 1:27.
Roll Em had more than enough left in the tank after a soft middle half of :59.2, drawing away to win by two and one-half lengths. The mile clocking of 1:54.2 came on a track that had been downgraded to sloppy during the card, with a one-second variant. All Bets On Tex was second and Twin B Tuffenuff was third.
Brent Campbell of Charlottetown trains the son of Time To Roll and the Panspacificflight mare Feetonthedashboard. He co-owns the horse with Brady Doyle of Stratford, Ryan MacLeod of Souris and Savage Stable of Stratford, P.E.I.
Roll Em now shows 30 lifetime wins, with two of those victories coming in his three starts so far in 2024. He's earned $430,009 in his career.
During the 13-race card, the Campbell tandem combined for a win with Pendleton Rodeo. It was the Betting Line colt’s fourth straight, this time in 1:56.3. Marc Campbell was aboard Avatar J in the 13th race finale for his third driving win.
Corey MacPherson opened up the program with the daily double from his own barn as Howmac Exclusive won in 1:57.2 in the first race and Roll On Lewis won the second race in 1:59.1 for the trainer-driver.
The sixth race Crane Supply Pace had Watchmaker win in 1:56.2 for driver Mike Downey, trainer Ellen Stevenson and owner Dr. Mitchell Downey.
Live racing continues Tuesday evening at Red Shores Summerside starting at 6 P.M.
For race replays and more go to Redshores.ca.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results-Charlottetown Driving Park
(Standardbred Canada/Red Shores)