Maple Leaf Spirit is quickly proving to be the next Maritime trotting star as she remains undefeated after lowering the track record for two-year-old trotting fillies at Summerside Raceway in Wednesday night’s Lady Slipper
Stakes action.
Maple Leaf Spirit survived a long first over trip after leaving from Post 8 in the first of two $8,100 Lady Slipper Stakes divisions for freshmen trotters. The popular daughter of Meadowagogo-Maple Leaf Legacy took control at the three-quarters pole and cruised to a 2:04.3 career-best victory. The time of the mile erased Scarlet Sunset’s former 2:05.2 track record. Rustico Myjo (Brian MacPhee) finished a length behind in second and Rustico Redflame (Joey Pineau) was third. Trainer, driver and breeder Ralph Annear co-owns the filly, who is undefeated in seven starts, with Steven Sorrie of Sturgeon, PE. Her earnings climbed to $21,033 with the win.
The other two-year-old trotting division went to favourite Waiting On A Woman, who waited for no one as he front-stepped his way to a 13-3/4 length score in a 2:03 track record clocking for colts and geldings. Driven by Corey MacPherson, the homebred son of Northern Bailey-Southwind Faith scored his fourth win in six outings for trainer Mitchell Tierney, who co-owns the gelding with David Tierney. The Iceman Aireth (Marc Campbell) and Howmacswickedflame (Mike Stevenson) finished second and third. Having never finished worse than third, Waiting On A Woman has banked $14,804 to date.
Acton Nervous and Woodmere Gorgeous starred in the freshmen pacing filly splits with a pair of winning performances in the two $11,200 Gold divisions.
Acton Nervous shot to the lead from Post 4 and didn’t look back en route to a 6-1 upset. The daughter of Toofunnyforwords-Emberlee won for the second time in six outings by a length and a quarter in 2:00.4 for driver Norris Roger and trainer Blaine McKenna, who shares ownership with Gary Arsenault of Miscouche, PE. Bemused (Marc Campbell) was the runner-up with favourite Our Lady Byng (Kenny Arsenault) coming in third.
In the next division, trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault tucked Woodmere Gorgeous into the pocket spot behind inside starter Ifiwereaboy (Jason Hughes) and was shuffled back to third as Ultimate Spirit (Marc Campbell) advanced to the lead after the opening quarter. The Western Success-Costly Ball filly waited until the stretch to make her move and blasted home in :29.4 to prevail by a neck over Ifiwereaboy in 2:01.3. Forthena (Clare MacDonald) finished third while Ultimate Spirit faded to fourth. Larry Chappell of Charlottetown, PE owns Woodmere Gorgeous, a winner of three races in seven starts. She has banked $19,345 having never finished off the board.
Grayland Rain (2:05), Pams Pet (2:06.4), Acton Normal (2:03), Thought Of (2:02.2) and Yankee No More (2:00.4) each earned victories in their respective $4,200 Grassroots divisions.
Sophomore trotting star Scarlet Patti added another stakes victory to her impressive resume capturing the first of four $5,200 divisions for three-year-old trotters. The popular daughter of Pjs Nabby-Scarlet Nite carved out all the fractions with a flat tire but was nipped at the wire by pocket-sitter Southfield Sam (Terry Gallant) in 2:04.3. However, Southfield Sam was placed back to second for causing Scarlet Patti’s flat tire at the one-eighth pole. West River Ugo (Clare MacDonald) finished 12 lengths back in third. Darryl MacLean trains, drives and bred the winner of six races in seven starts this year for owner Gordon MacLean of Winsloe, PE. Her resume now reads 17-2-1 in 20 starts with earnings totaling $49,569.
In the following division, favourite Howmacs Amigo fired off the gate from Post 5 and opened up five lengths on his rivals. The gelded son of Amigo Hall-Wicked Whisper maintained a strong lead right to the wire stopping the clock in a life’s-best 2:03. Trained by Earl Watts and owned by Howmac Farms Ltd. of North Wiltshire, PE, Howmacs Amigo picked up his first win of the season in seven starts. Diamond Mine (Mike Stevenson) was second-best with third-place going to Ann Shirley (Ed Smallwood), who finished over 30 lengths in arrears.
B J Eldorado went wire-to-wire in the next split winning in 2:04 by a length and a half over Rustico Tapdancer (Joey Pineau) and Rustico Nicky (Ed Smallwood). The favoured son of Meadowagogo-Leap Year Hanover, who is owned, bred and trained by Bert Honkoop, was driven to victory for the fifth time in seven seasonal outings by Mike Stevenson.
Garry MacDonald’s Kims Pjs trotted to a 2:02 victory in the final sophomore split. The popular daughter of Pjs Nabby-Kimsan was 3-3/4 lengths the best while Porter (Kenny Arsenault) and Rosetown Dove (Corey MacPherson) followed in second and third. She has won three (consecutive) times in five starts this year.
To view Wednesday's results, click here.