Five divisions of P.E.I. Colt Stakes action for trotters headlined the Tuesday, July 14 card at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
Little Louis staked his claim as the top trotting sophomore on the East Coast with his victory in the $21,100 division for three-year-old males. Corey MacPherson brushed him to the lead from post seven nearing a :29.4 quarter, rated him to 1:00.4 and 1:30.2 middle fractions, and the gelding went clear by 3-3/4 lengths in a 1:59.2 score. Call Of Honor (Ken Murphy) was second, followed by Hoponarocket (Gilles Barrieau)
Kuri White trains Little Louis for East Coast Captains of Cornwall, P.E.I. The E L Rocket-Go With Her gelding has won 12 of his 14 career starts, including his Atlantic Breeders Crown last season, and has earned $96,266. He paid $2.10 to win.
The biggest upset of the evening came in the $21,100 three-year-old filly contest as divisional heavyweight Hallysgurl (Barrieau) was off-stride at the start as the heavy favourite, leaving the bout wide open. Bonmati and Corey MacPherson capitalized for victory, sitting fifth through :29.1 and :59.2 fractions before moving onto cover to three-quarters in 1:30 and rallying to a 2:01.1 victory. She rolled past Emberlees Rocket (Marc Campbell) by 1-1/4 lengths, and Miss Gracie Ridge (Brodie MacPhee) closed for third.
Blayne White of South Pinette, P.E.I. owns and trains the daughter of E L Rocket-Glidetowin. Bonmati scored a maiden win in her 11th start, upping her bankroll to $36,459. She paid $58.60 to win.
The $14,400 two-year-old colt divisions produced a pair of dominant wins.
Stunning Speed ($3.90) carved out the fractions of :32, 1:03 and 1:33.3 on a loose lead en route to a 2:03.4 debut victory. Muscles Dreamer (Adam Merner) finished second by 2-1/4 lengths with Hopthroughit (Clare MacDonald) third. The winning Muscle Through It-Stunning Look colt was driven by trainer Mike McGuigan for owners Little Pond Stables of Little Pond, P.E.I. and The Coles Stable of Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Massivearmour ($2.10) was the only horse to trot throughout the mile in the other freshman male division. After grabbing the front at the quarter in :30.1, the Muscle Mass-Incredible Hally colt was allowed to name his own fractions with no other rivals in the picture through 1:00.2 and 1:33.4 middle splits. He crossed the line 16 lengths in front in a 2:05.4 debut romp for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Darryl MacLean and owners Calvin Larkin of Mermaid, P.E.I. and Erika Bradley of Charlottetown. Maple Leaf Captain (Myles Heffernan Sr.), who jumped it off early, reeled in the leader in the third quarter before breaking again and finishing second. Shoe Dog Speed (Paul Langille) completed the top three.
Saulsbrook Disco ($12.90) captured the $14,400 two-year-old filly division in 2:08.1 with Marc Campbell in the sulky. The Muscle Through It-Cleveland Twilight filly was in the pocket through :33.1 and 1:06.3 early fractions, slid out to attack Early Speed (Heffernan Sr.) going to three-quarters in 1:38.1, and beat that rival by three-quarters of a length in 2:08.1. Rockin Through It (McGuigan) was third. Landon Campbell trains the winning debutante for What R The Oddz Stable of Orwell, P.E.I.
The $5,800 Preferred 2 Pace closed the card with Freemans Legacy ($12.20) upsetting the favourites in 1:54. Trainer-driver Jaycob Sweet sent the Pang Shui-Camco Terra gelding to the front through :27.3, :56.3 and 1:25.2 fractions, and Freemans Legacy kept cruising to a 2-1/2-length win for owner Mackenzie Arsenault of Alberton, P.E.I. Heavy favourite Merigo Magic (Merner) closed well for second while Sauble Attack (Murphy) was third. The winner, a five-year-old gelding, is four-for-10 this year and 16-for-63 lifetime with $58,043 in earnings. He paid $12.20 to win.
Marc Campbell had a driving triple on the program including a pair of wins for his son Landon Campbell’s outfit.
Governor’s Plate Week racing continues on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside. The P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies headlines the action, with two $21,920 Gold divisions in Races 2 and 8.
Country Rhythm is the 5-2 morning-line favourite in the first Gold tilt from post four for trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., who also owns the daughter of Tobago Cays-Dusty Lane Bria. The filly was a solid second in her career debut in Atlantic Sires Stakes action at Truro Raceway with an effort timed in 1:58. Myles Heffernan Sr. will drive the filly again. Country Rhythm’s main rivals include inside starter Rosetown Aurora (Corey MacPherson, 3-1) and Ys Fancy Speed (Adam Merner, 7-2) from post five.
In the second Gold division, Sheeowtime Speed (Marc Campbell, 5-2) will try to remain undefeated from post five for trainer Earl Watts. Windemere Farms and Matt and David Burke own the daughter of Somewhere Fancy-Betty Hill, who was a winner in 1:57.3 in her career debut at Truro in the Atlantic Sires Stakes. She has six fillies to battle, including Tobins Swiftie (PP2, Jason Hughes, 7-2) from and Woodmere Twigs (PP4, Adam Merner, 3-1).
The program also has $10,960 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Grassroots divisions for rookie pacing fillies in Races 1, 3, 5 and 7.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(Red Shores; photo of Little Louis winning on July 14)