Buckhead Ridge extended his winning streak to seven as he captured the Open Handicap Trot to stay unbeaten since joining the Landon Campbell barn on Thursday, July 3 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
After dropping back to fourth under orders from Marc Campbell in a :30 first quarter, the gelding marched to the front and took command of the $4,000 featured event before the half in :59.4. He went to three-quarters in 1:29.3, edging away from the field, and he motored home in :27.4 to win in 1:57.2 by 2-3/4 lengths over Fight Song (Jason Hughes). New Legacy (David Dowling) finished third.
Buckhead Ridge, a five-year-old son of Nuncio-Tuonela, is seven-for-nine this year and is undefeated since shipping in to the Island for Landon Campbell and owner Brady Doyle of Stratford, P.E.I. The gelding earned his 12th win in 44 career starts and increased his earnings to $117,927. He paid $2.90 to win.
Lady Devine made the most of a pocket ride and pulled off the upset in the featured distaff conditioned pace as she bested heavily-favoured stablemate Elm Grove Mistress. In the $3,750 top class for mares, Lady Devine and Ken Murphy sat second behind Elm Grove Mistress (Dowling) through panels of :29, :58.2 and 1:28.4 before pouncing in the final quarter to prevail by a neck in 1:57.1. Woodmere Kennedie (Gilles Barrieau) finished third.
The 14-1 longshot winner returned $31 to win for trainer and owner Jennifer Doyle of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. Lady Devine, a four-year-old Heston Blue Chip-Booty Call mare, is now 15-for-54 lifetime with $52,103 in earnings.
Doyle had two winners on the evening as Promise Me Later ($6.70) scored in the eighth race in line to Dowling, stopping the clock in 1:56.1.
Trainer Jackie Matheson was a two-time winner as Outrageous Song ($15.10) won in 1:57.3 with Barrieau in the bike and Stealing Bases ($7.30) won in 1:57.4 for a red-hot Marc Campbell.
Marc Campbell scored four wins as he extended his lead in the driver’s standings. The Orwell, P.E.I.-based reinsman won with two-year-old filly Windemere Skye ($8.50) for trainer Earl Watts in 1:57.4, Stealing Bases, Buckhead Ridge, and Islebetu Islebeatu ($7.10) from the Brendon Mullen barn in 1:58.
Starship Sundancer ($16) was another winner from the Watts barn with a 2:00 mile in her debut for veteran driver Harold Shepherd.
Live racing continues on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown.
(With files from Red Shores)