Undefeated freshman Instant Shadow was a very impressive winner in the fifth race on Wednesday night at Summerside Raceway.
The son of Shadow Play enjoyed a pocket trip through fractions of :28.4, :58.3, 1:28.4 before sprinting home in :28.2 to prevail by a neck over the popular pacesetter Geepers Creepers in a new lifetime mark of 1:57.3.
Instant Shadow's winning time tied the track record for freshman pacing colts that was set two years ago by another son of Shadow Play, Shadversary, and it also came within just one-fifth of a second of the overall two-year-old male record held by gelding Forever Paradise.
Owned by trainer Sifroi Melanson's Ultimate Stable and Robert Kyle of New Brunswick, the $28,000 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale topper is now two-for-two to start his career. The colt gave leading driver Gilles Barrieau his first of two victories on the night.
Later on the card, Cambest Kisser used rail control to kiss his five opponents goodnight in the race 11 feature.
The eight-year-old Cambest gelding was blasted off the wings for trainer/driver Jason Hughes, laying down all the numbers (:28.2, :58.1, 1:28) and held on by a quarter of a length for a 1:57.1 score. Donald and Steven MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. share ownership of the 29-time winner. Machinthesand was a closing second while Oh To Be Me was third.
The win gave ‘The Blue Knight’ a driving and training double on the night. He kicked off the card with a win aboard the debuting two-year-old Mister Big colt Howmacsliberty.
Kenny Murphy also enjoyed a driving double on the card, scoring with Jays Little Spark and Tammysmist.
Racing returns to Red Shores Charlottetown on Thursday. Post time is 7 p.m.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)