It was a night dedicated to freshman fillies as the Charlottetown Driving Park hosted the rookie set for various divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes as part of its Thursday evening card.
Aspoonfulofsugar rolled to a 1:57 score in the first of three $9,540 ‘A’ divisions for pacers. Dale Spence hustled the Joseph Baxter trainee to the lead from Post 6 and together they led the field through fractions of :28.4, :58.1 and 1:27.1 before kicking home in :29.4 to win by one-quarter of a length over Woodmere Stella. Third prize went to Elm Grove Penney.
Sent off as the 4-5 choice in the six-filly affair, the daughter of Rollwithitharry-Sugar Booger improved her 2020 record to 3-0-1 from four starts for owners Jennifer Baxter, Sean Baxter, Trish Hardy and Matthew Williams. She’s banked over $14,000 to date.
Tobins Brownie used the same tactical approach to win the second division in 1:58.4 for the duo of driver David Dowling and trainer Jonah Moase. After cutting out fractions of :29.1, 1:00.2 and 1:30.4 the leader kicked home in :28 to win by three-quarters of a length over JJ Talisa. Race favourite Little Miss Ava was third.
Alex Quinn, Carl Peterson and Amy Katherine Lakie share ownership on the daughter of Stonebridge Terror-Putnam Mackenzie. It was her third win of the year from five attempts and the lion’s share of the loot pushed her earnings over $12,000.
Southfield Skye kept her perfect record intact thanks to a 14-length blowout in the final division for driver Adam Merner and trainer Glenn MacKay. Merner carved out fractions of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:28.1 with the 1-9 favourite before using a :28.3 kicker to stop the clock in 1:56.4. Glenview Rhonda was next best, with Woodmere Leah third.
Bred and owned by Southfield Farms Inc, the daughter of Stonebridge Terror-Southfield Sarah has banked over $8,000 to date.
A set of $2,500 ‘B’ divisions also went postward with Where Angels Fly going wire-to-wire in the first tilt in 2:00.3. Corey MacPherson hustled his charge to the top and she sliced out splits of :30.3, 1:01.2 and 1:31.1 before rolling home in :29.2 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Mystifying. The show dough was earned by A Lady By Chance.
Ronnie Gass trains the daughter of Steelhead Hanover-Dusty Lane Tate for Kickin Horse Stable and Bill Andrew. It was the second win of the season from five tries for the youngster.
Red Dirt Magic was a front-stepping winner in the second division for driver David Dowling and trainer Earl Watts. She parked to the quarter pole in :29 before cruising down the pylons and whacking out remaining panels of :58.4 and 1:29.2. Her :29.2 closing speed propelled her to the win by 5-1/4 lengths over Steelthethunder. Tobins Angel was third.
Sent off as the 2-5 favourite, the daughter of Ameripan Gigolo-Independent Gal improved her record to 2-1-1 from five starts for owners Hollis Newson, Clive Balderston, Debbie Denney and Ric McNutt.
Paris Beau took down a new lifetime mark of 1:55.3 with his victory in the $2,400 Joe & Wal Hennessey Memorial. Corey MacPherson turned a two-hole trip into the career-best score with the Douglas Beckwith trainee. Race favourite J K Express, who carved out fractions of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:27.1, was a neck back in second. Taking home third prize was Jetster.
Sent off at odds of 8-1, the eight-year-old son of Neutralize-Paris won for the third time this season and for the 24th time in his career. He’s quickly closing in on $100,000 in lifetime earnings for owner Douglas Beckwith.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.