Tobins Gem was a cut above as he established a new lifetime mark in winning the fastest of three $11,460 Atlantic Sires Stakes A divisions for rookie pacing colts on Thursday, Aug. 14 during Old Home Week action at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
In the final split, Tobins Gem ($10.40) got the better of previously undefeated Sporty Anthony (Ken Murphy) with a strong late move for trainer George Rennison and driver Marc Campbell, stopping the clock in 1:56.4. After taking the lead before a :28.4 quarter, he gave up the front to Sporty Anthony, who cut :58.3 and 1:28.2 middle fractions. Tobins Gem darted up the passing lane in the stretch, surging past Sporty Anthony to prevail by 1-1/2 lengths. Darbies Fancy (Barrieau) was third.
Tobins Gem, a Flameproof Hanover-Grace Seelster gelding, is owned by Rennison Racing Inc. of Truro, N.S. He has won three of four starts, with his only loss due to an early break in stride.
Tiziano ($5.50) and driver-trainer Clare MacDonald took the first A division. They controlled the tempo from the start, posting :29.4, 1:00, and 1:29.2 panels while rebuffing the first-over Oceanview Lou (Brodie MacPhee) before three-quarters. Tiziano then held off Woodmere Mahomes (Gilles Barrieau) down the lane by a quarter-length in 1:58. Rollwiththewarden (Corey MacPherson) finished third.
The win was the first in stakes competition for Tiziano, who is now two-for-six lifetime. The Blood Money-Keystone Treasure gelding is co-owned by MacDonald of Antigonish, N.S., Kevin McFadgen of Glace Bay, N.S., and Ian Tate of St. Andrews, N.S.
Fire And Blood ($7.20) sprung the mild upset for trainer-driver Mike Downey in the second A division. After taking an early lead, he was pocketed by Zero Two Sixty (Barrieau) before the quarter in :28.4 and shuffled to third as Woodmere Kobe (Kenny Arsenault) went to the front nearing the half in :58.1. Fire And Blood moved out second-over on the backstretch, looming on cover through three-quarters in 1:28.2, and surged down the stretch to get up in the shadow of the wire over Woodmere Kobe in 1:57.3. Zero Two Sixty completed the triactor.
Dr. Mitchell Downey owns Fire And Blood, a son of Blood Money-Pangoon. The colt has won three straight after a place finish his debut and took a lifetime mark in Thursday's win.
The $6,000 B divisions for two-year-old pacing colts went to Windemere Barkley ($2.40) and trainer-driver Zach Mullins in 1:59.1, The Gambling Man ($4) for trainer Ashley Gamester and driver Jason Hughes in 2:00.1, longshot Shekhan ($72.10) in a 1:58.3 upset for driver Colin Sheppard and trainer Morgan Sheppard, and Woodmere Bullet ($19.60) for trainer Jamie Smith and driver Corey MacPherson in 1:58.1.
In overnight action, Nothing Bugs Me ($3.70) turned in the night’s fastest mile, winning the $4,000 Joe & Wal Hennessey Memorial in 1:53.3 for trainer Vaughan Doyle and driver Barrieau.
Braxtons Boy ($3.20) was a sharp 1:54.1 victor in the Jeff May Memorial in the finale for trainer Richard Armstrong with Barrieau in the bike.
Pauls Crown ($2.10) won the Race 2, Joey & Dee Arsenault Memorial, in a 1:56.2 victory for trainer Stanley Harper and driver Marc Campbell.
Marc Campbell scooped another win as he took the Andy Judson Memorial in Race 4 with Gascoigne A C ($10.10) in 1:56 for conditioner Tammy Collings.
The Apps & Etta Arsenault Memorial in Race 8 went to Obsessed With Lou ($5.30) in 1:57.2 for driver Brodie MacPhee and trainer Tom Weatherbie.
Shake N Blake ($4.10) won the Wilbur & Eileen Doyle Memorial in Race 9 in a 1:56.3 trip for trainer Jennifer Doyle and driver David Dowling.
Old Home Week action continues Friday evening at Red Shores Charlottetown with a stakes-laden program featuring the Lady Slipper Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies and the $30,000 James ‘Roach’ MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer Consolation. The 13-dash presentation has a 6 p.m. opening post time.
The MacGregor Memorial will hit the track in Race 13 with Twin B Tuffenuff installed as the 5-2 choice for trainer Ron Matherson, owner Pat Morris, and driver Barrieau from post five. The multiple Preferred winner will have to contend with post-one pacer Malignity (Paul Langille) along with Nuttin But Finesse (Mike Downey), Lakers Bank (David Dowling), Bounty Hunter (Kenny Arsenault), Saulsbrook Ian (Adam Merner), Bettor Than Spring (Brett MacDonald), and Roll Em (Marc Campbell),
The $22,800 Lady Slipper Stakes Gold divisions will be contested in Races 4, 8 and 12, while four $11,400 Grassroots divisions are slated for Races 2, 6 and 10.
The first Gold split has Tobins Dream as the 5-2 morning-line favourite from post five for trainer Kevin MacLean, driver Brett MacDonald, and owner Reg MacPherson. The daughter of Stonebridge Terror-Putnam Mackenzie, who is one-for-13 this year, will take on top contenders Howmac Maleficent (Ken Murphy) from the rail and Windemereontheline (Marc Campbell) from post four.
Race 8 is headlined by Steady Heart, off the rail in a Gold split for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Bo Ford, who co-owns her with Arnold Myers, Luke Beck and Scott Bridges. The daughter of Sunfire Blue Chip-Prettyndangerous is a seven-time winner from 10 seasonal starts. She takes on Windemere Classie (Marc Campbell) and Elm Grove Talia (Dowling) as the top rivals.
In the final Gold division in Race 12, last year’s two-year-old standout Badgirl Bridgette will look for her seventh straight win in her sophomore campaign as the 5-2 favourite from post six for owner-trainer Bill Lanigan and driver Jason Hughes. Her top rivals will be Talldarklatte (Brodie MacPhee) from post four and Lady Hess (MacPherson) from post three.
The Friday card also features a number sponsored overnight races including the Larry Spencer Memorial Pace in Race 1, The George Wilkie Memorial in Race 3, The Allan & Gloria Bradley Memorial in Race 5, The District 16 Cornwall-Meadowbank Liberal Association Pace in Race 7, the Heath MacDonald MP Malpeque Pace in Race 9 and The John Hennessey DVM Pace in Race 11.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)