Sophomore pacing colts and fillies competed in two $3,000 eliminations each for the Maritime Breeders Stakes on Saturday, June 8 at Charlottetown Driving Park.
Im A Miracle took the first filly elimination going wire to wire in 1:59.2. The daughter of Westwardho Hanover set fractions of :30.4, 1:00.2 and 1:30.2 on the lead and held off a late charge from favourite Arc Light kicking off cover to finish second by a neck. Pocket-sitter Therealdeal finished third.
Owned by Gary Cave, Im A Miracle broke her maiden in her ninth start while pushing her earnings to $11,381. Dale Spence drove the Joseph Baxter trainee who paid $6.80 to win.
Elm Grove Nellie nabbed victory in the second filly elimination in 1:59.2. The Stonebridge Terror filly sat sixth as Ma Rebelle posted splits of :29.4 and :59.2 on the lead. Elm Grove Nellie soon caught cover on the second circuit as Cheeky Cherry tipped first over and progressed towards the leader approaching a 1:29.2 third quarter. Cheeky Cherry led into the stretch but Elm Grove Nellie fanned wide and edged past late to win by a half length. Howmac Sabrina finished third and Woodmere Oleksiak took fourth.
Owned by Jennifer Baxter and Gregory Francis, Elm Grove Nellie won her second race from 12 starts, earning $22,221. Walter Cheverie drove the $13.50 winner for trainer Joseph Baxter.
Trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau wired the first colt elimination with odds-on favourite A Grand Terror winning in 1:58.2. The Camystic gelding faced no challenge through fractions of :29.4, :59.2 and 1:29.1 as he finished one-and-a-half lengths better than Whipple Effect in second with Dusty Lane Cortez taking third and Lets Get Pickled fourth.
Owned by Wayne MacRae, Robert Tilley and Gary Mott, A Grand Terror won his third race from nine starts, earning $13,946. He paid $3.20 to win.
Driver Marc Campbell pounced from the pocket with his pupil Notorious to take the second colt elimination in 1:58.2. The gelding by Malicious stalked Red Dirt Rocknroll as he set a pace of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:28.2 on the lead. Mrs Browns Boy mounted a first-over bid past the half and raced alongside the pacesetter before powering past into the stretch. However Notorious snuck from the pocket and slid to a two-length victory over Mrs Browns Boy while R Es Daz, from second over, took third and Red Dirt Boomer finished fourth.
Owned by Darryl MacLean, Gordon MacLean and Shirley Symes, Notorious won his seventh race from 16 starts, earning $44,514. He paid $3.40 to win.
Sodwana Bay, sent the 2/5 favourite, went coast to coast in the $2,800 Fillies and Mares Open. The six-year-old No Pan Intended mare, starting from post one, secured the front and posted fractions of :29.2, :58.4 and 1:28.1. Ramblinglily attempted to challenge first over passing the half but retreated with the rest of the two-wide mount, leaving Jordies Hope to rush after the leader late but finish a neck shy of victory in the 1:56.4 mile. Pocket-sitter Drivingthedragon N took third.
Trained and driven by Gilles Barrieau, Sodwana Bay races for owners Wayne MacRae and Howmac Farms Ltd. The $2.40 winner won her 24th race from 84 starts, earning $166,844.
Favourite Euchred also wired his competition, cruising to a 1:54.2 victory in the $2,900 Preferred 2 Pace. Trainer-driver David Dowling dashed the seven-year-old Shadow Play gelding to the point and set splits of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:25.4 on the lead. The pair gradually expanded their lead circling the final turn to win by four-and-three-quarter lengths over Revenant rushing first over to take second with Rose Run Quest, who caught that cover into the final turn, taking third.
Owned by Kayla Habicht Walker, Euchred won his 46th race from 139 starts, earning $113,447. He paid $3.70 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.