The red carpet was rolled out at Red Shores at Charlottetown Driving Park during Tuesday’s card of racing to honour a very special guest – none other than the nation's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
According to CBC.ca, Trudeau was a busy man during his visit to PEI. He scooped ice cream for customers at Cow’s Creamery, he took selfies with adoring fans and even photo-bombed a winner’s circle presentation to Atlantic Sires Stakes winner, BJ Savanah.
Trudeau had visited Bridgetown, N.S, earlier in the day to announce there would be $116 million in federal funding for water and transit projects.
Six divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes went postward Tuesday evening, and the aforementioned BJ Savanah kicked things off with a 2:08.3 in her $6,340 division for two-year-old trotters.
The daughter of Bo W-Orientation marched right to the lead from Post 4 for driver Brian MacPhee and she successfully led the group through panels of :32.3, 1:04.4 and 1:36.4 before using a :31.4 kicker to seal the deal. She won by a length over Talk Of Windemere, with Mile Hill Mac winding up a well-beaten third.
Bert Honkoop of Montague, PE bred, owns and trains the rookie who nabbed her first paycheque thanks to the maiden-breaking win.
Majian Tango took the second division for the freshman trotters thanks to his 2:05 triumph for trainer/driver James Ripley. The son of Tad The Stud-Askmetodance was second to the quarter pole before charging to the front and taking matters into his own hands. He led the group through middle splits of 1:02.1 and 1:33.2 before cruising home in :31.3 to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Miss Kennedy. Play Along was third in the three-horse affair.
Sent off as the 1-5 choice, the gelding made it back-to-back wins in the ATSS for owner/breeder Marylea Ripley of Amherst, NS. The rookie owns a 2-2-1 record from five trips to the track and his earnings climbed over $10,000.
Windemerepartyman earned a new speed badge thanks to his 2:08.2 triumph in the third division. The son of Nureyev-Windemere Spirit sat second for the first half before rushing to the lead in the backstretch and taking the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:37.1. A :31.1 closing panel was enough to win by a half-length margin over BJ Lorado. Glencove Carter finished third after parking every step of the way.
Co-owned and driven by Jack Panting, it was the second lifetime win for the youngster who is co-owned by trainer Ralph Annear.
Oceanview Pancho captured the first ATSS division for the three-year-old trotters, much to the delight of the chalk players that made him the 1-5 favourite in the $6,180 event.
Walter Cheverie had the colt parked while sitting third at the quarter pole, but they eventually found the pylons and wound up being able to work out a two-hole trip through middle panels of 1:02.1 and 1:33. Oceanview Pancho found late clearance and used a :30-second closing quarter to win by 1-1/2 lengths over B J Classic in 2:03.2. Time Warp was third.
Trainer Paul Larrabee of Belle River shares ownership on the homebred with breeder William Roloson of Belfast, PE. It was the third lifetime tally for the son of Neal-Rose Run Frances.
Howmac Gypsy clicked in the second division, and in doing so gave driver Jack Panting and trainer Ralph Annear their second stakes victory on the card. Panting hustled the daughter of Nureyev-Busta Balls through fractions of :29.4, 1:01.1 and 1:32.4 before kicking home in :29.4 to win by a half-length margin over Wheres The Partyat in 2:02.3. Cardigan Jack was third.
Annear co-owns the filly with Steven Sorrie of Montague, PE. It was the third lifetime tally for the career winner of close to $20,000.
Mr Bower and Craigh Na Dun dead heated for the top spot in the final division, but the latter was then set back for an interference fraction from earlier in the mile.
Mr Bower, who was riding a four-race winning streak coming into the $6,180 affair, shot to the top and carved out fractions of :29.2, 1:00 and 1:31.2 for trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault, but he couldn’t shake off Craig Na Dun. They were inseparable – until the Judges intervened – in 2:01.3. Craig Na Dun was placed third for causing interference to Oceanview Lefty shortly after the start. Oceanview Lefty crossed the line third, but was placed up to second.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Mr Bower improved this year’s record to 5-3-0 from eight trips postward for owner Wade Peconi of Stanchel, PE. The son of Meadowagogo-Credibility is now a six-time winner with earnings of close to $20,000.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.