Woodmere Dougal grabbed the spotlight with a track-record performance in P.E.I. Colt Stakes action for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Thursday, July 16 at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
He captured the first $17,300 Gold division in 1:55.1 for trainer-driver Corey MacPherson, lowering the standard for a rookie male pacer. Much More Malice (Gilles Barrieau) cut fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.1 before Woodmere Dougal surged past him in the stretch to win by one length. Much More Malice was second and Kingstown (Adam Merner) completed the triactor.
The winning son of Bet The Moon-Princess Rusty is undefeated in two lifetime starts and has earned $12,285 for owners Peter Smith of Stratford, P.E.I. and Gerald Morrissey of Charlottetown, P.E.I. Woodmere Dougal paid $3.70 to win. The 1:55.1 performance reduced the previous Summerside rookie gelding pace mark of 1:55.2, jointly held by Good Omen and Woodmere Stealdeal. The new record also lowered the standard for a two-year-old pacing male and tied the overall mark for a freshman, which was initially set by filly Saulsbrook Alana in 2013.
Woodmere Rock It kept his perfect career record intact with a front-end victory in the second Gold division. MacPherson controlled the tempo through panels of :30.4, 1:02 and 1:31.2, then unleashed the gelding for a :28 sprint for home to win by two lengths in 1:59.2. Southdale Jeff (Merner) finished second with Woodmere Fergus (Barrieau) third.
Jamie Smith trains Woodmere Rock It for owner Thestable Woodmererock It of Guelph, Ont. The son of Tobago Cays-Musette Mindale is now unbeaten in three lifetime outings with a bankroll of $14,185. He returned $2.10 at the windows.
There were seven $8,650 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Grassroots divisions on the card. The winners were Bet On Davie ($6.60) in 1:59.4 for trainer-driver Mike McGuigan, Camco Kolton ($3.60) in 1:59.2 for trainer-driver MacPherson, Wilson Cassidy ($10) in 1:58 for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Kevin Bailey, Redland George ($5.20) in 1:58.2 for MacPherson and trainer Brian MacPhee, Lornevalley Austin ($36.10) in 2:02 for driver Myles Heffernan Sr. and trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., Malicious Whisper ($2.50) in 2:00.1 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Clifford Murphy and Lyndale Mr Phil ($55.80) in 1:59 for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Ashley Gamester.
Tj Mik Flash ($5.10) captured the second-race Isabelle & Ivan Cameron Memorial in 2:01.1 as she debuted for driver Ken MacDonald and trainer Clare MacDonald. The two-year-old daughter of Always B Miki-Flashy Delight is owned by Hailee Currie of Rocky Point, P.E.I.
You Already Have ($5.80) won the Bob MacInnis Memorial in Race 6 with Barrieau aboard for trainer Nicholas Oakes and owners J D Racing Inc. of Cornwall, P.E.I. and Dunsan Farms of Warren Grove, P.E.I. The three-year-old Cattlewash-Bid Writer filly controlled every fraction to win in 1:56.3.
Bettim Alive ($51.80) posted the fastest mile of the evening with a 1:54.2 upset in Race 13 for trainer-driver Jaycob Sweet. The four-year-old Lazarus N-Bettim Laura gelding is owned by Jeff Lilley and Blair MacLauchlan of Charlottetown.
MacPherson recorded four driving wins on the 14-dash program and also trained two winners.
Total wager for the evening was $158,132.
Live racing continues on Friday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(Red Shores)