A trio of Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions highlighted the Friday afternoon (August 17) card at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Kinross Kate patiently sat the pocket in the first $6,000 behind pacesetter Kahlua Morning (Jason Hughes) through fractions of :29.3, :59.2 and 1:29.3, 1:59.1. As the pacesetter started to falter and drift turning for home, driver Gillies Barrieau had clear sailing. A :29.2 closing quarter sealed the deal for the mild upset, hitting the wire in a lifetime best 1:59.1. Love In Paradise (David Dowling) also angled to the inside of the drifting pacesetter for second with Kahlua Morning holding for show.
Kinross Kate (Ameripan Gigolo - Divine Justice) is trained by Kevin MacLean for owner Reg Mac Pherson of Stratford, PE. The win was just the second of her sophomore campaign, bringing her seasonal summary to 2-3-2 from 13 starts with $5,225 in purses.
As expected, Keepcalmndanceon was much the best in the second Lady Slipper division. Driver Marc Campbell had the filly on the lead early, ceded to an urged-on Scottish Light (Norris Rogers) through an opening quarter of :29.1 before reclaiming the lead in front of the grandstand and reaching the half in :58.1. Scottish Light stayed with the pacesetter down the backside but Keepcalmndanceon turned on the afterburners around the final turn and pulled away to a five-plus length decision in a lifetime best 1:58.2. Scottish Cross and Kant Katch Kaiden (Dale Spence) completed the triactor.
Bo Ford trains Keepcalmndanceon (Art Major - Gone Dancing) for The Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston, PEI. In 13 sophomore starts, Keepcalmndanceon boasts a 6-1-3 summary and $7,470 in earnings.
A winner at Charlottetown six days ago, Gigolos Rose made a return to the winner's circle with a dominant performance in the third and final Lady Slipper division. After a tussle to wrestle control through a sharp :28.2 opening quarter, driver Jason Hughes was able to back down the pace and steal a middle half in 1:00.4 (:58.2 half and 1:29.1 three-quarters) before kicking into another gear with a :29.1 final panel to trip the timer more than five lengths to the good in 1:58.2. Runner-up honours went to Dusty Lane Artiste (Corey MacPherson) with Evening Maelstron in the show spot.
Hughes trains Gigolos Rose (Ameripan Gigolo - Papas Little Rose) for Ashley Gamester of Hunter River, PEI. Never missing a cheque in 12 seasonal starts, Gigolos Rose sports $6,690 in seasonal earnings.
An accident marred the first race of the afternoon, sending two drivers to hospital. Both Camco Wily (Norman Myers) and The Captain Jack (Terrance Williams) fell and did not finish the first race. The horses both walked away from the spill. Myers and Williams were transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for medical review, each complaining of shoulder injury.
For the results from Friday's afternoon card, click the following link: Friday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park (afternoon).