Bless Me Father stamped himself as the fastest trotter in the history of Summerside Raceway with a new overall track record of 1:57.1 in the lone $20,240 Lady Slipper Stakes dash for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on an all-stakes card on Sunday, Aug. 24.
Leaving from post two, Marc Campbell worked him around early longshot leader Dusty Lane Gus (Ryan Desroche) on the first turn to secure command in a :29.4 first split. Bless Me Father cruised to the half in :59 on a loose lead and opened up by four lengths to three-quarters in 1:28.2 with Longblacklimousine (Paul Langille) on the march first-over, narrowing the gap to two lengths with an eighth of a mile to go. He marched on under a drive down the stretch, but Bless Me Father was never in danger and cruised to the wire to triumph by 1-1/4 lengths. West River Jet (Ken MacDonald) was third, 10 lengths behind the winner.
The time lowered the three-year-old gelding track record of 1:57.4 set by Irish Ray in 2023 and the overall trotting standard, formerly held by Osprey Impact, who went in 1:57.2 in 2017.
Bless Me Father is unbeaten through six starts at three for owner-trainer Donna Van Meer of Mount Herbert, P.E.I. The son of Father Patrick-My Angel Heart improved to nine-for-13 lifetime and upped his earnings to $57,399. He paid $2.10 to win.
Windemere Skye protected her perfect record in the $32,800 Lady Slipper Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies, which headlined a program full of Lady Slipper Stakes and Joe O'Brien Memorial action.
Marc Campbell placed the Earl Watts trainee on the front to a :28.4 quarter, then released rival Fitness First (Corey MacPherson) to the lead and sat the pocket through :57.1 and 1:26.4 middle fractions. Windemere Skye popped out on the final turn and kicked into high gear, soaring by the leader to a 3-3/4-length victory in 1:56.1. Fitness First held second, and Serenity Now (Jason Hughes) closed to complete the triactor.
Windmere Farms of Springvale, P.E.I. shares ownership of the winning daughter of Somewhere Fancy-Howmac Missy with Matt Burke of Stratford, P.E.I. Windemere Skye ($4.10) has earned $33,640 with five victories in as many starts.
Woodmere Kobe hit his shot as the gelding upset at 9-1 for a maiden-breaking win in the lone $28,800 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. He got a perfect pocket trip for Kenny Arsenault behind fractions of :30.1, 1:00.2, and 1:29 provided by favourite Sporty Anthony (Ken Murphy). Woodmere Kobe angled out as they turned into the stretch and collared the pacesetter to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58. Zero Two Sixty (Danny Gillis) was third.
Woodmere Kobe ($20.80) has earned $19,325 in four starts. The son of Tobago Cays-Princess Rusty is trained by Arsenault for Peter Smith of Stratford and Gerald Morrissey of Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Little Louis ($2.10) coasted to a 2:04 win in the first of two $14,600 Lady Slipper divisions for rookie male trotters. One of two horses to stay on stride throughout the mile, he strolled through :32, 1:03.1, and 1:33.3 fractions and cruised home to win by 6-1/4 lengths over Hoponarocket (Mike McGuigan). Howmac Prime Time (Marc Campbell) was a distant third. Little Louis has won four straight stakes events since his place finish on debut. The E L Rocket-Go With Her gelding has earned $30,143 for trainer Kuri White and owner/breeder East Coast Captains of Cornwall, P.E.I.
West River Karuna ($2.50) won the other Lady Slipper rookie colt trot contest in 2:02.3 for driver Ken MacDonald and trainer Clare MacDonald. He sat a gapped fourth to the quarter in :30.4 before inheriting third when leader Nikway Rocks It (Myles Heffernan) went off stride. With that rival looking to rejoin the field on the outside, West River Karuna moved first-over and went to battle with new leader Mr Old Home Week (Desroche) past the half in 1:02.1 and through three-quarters in 1:32.1. West River Karuna gained the upper hand on the final turn and powered to the front, drawing clear by 1-3/4 lengths to prevail in 2:02.3. Mr Old Home Week was second-best, with five lengths between him and show finisher Call Of Honor (Joey Pineau). West River Karuna, a son of Legion Of Honor-Pannacotta Hanover, is now three-for-six lifetime with $24,847 in earnings for owner Haley MacDonald of Stratford.
Hallysgurl ($2.10) turned in a powerful 2:00.3 victory in her $14,600 Lady Slipper two-year-old trotting filly race with Barrieau driving for conditioner Darryl MacLean. She led all the way, carving out splits of :30, 1:00.3, and 1:30.1 and rolled home to a 4-1/4-length margin over Miss Gracie Ridge (Ambyr Campbell). Bonmati (MacPherson) completed the ticket. The winning daughter of Muscle Mass-Incredible Hally is now three-for-four with $17,661 in earnings for owners Calvin Larkin of Mermaid, P.E.I. and Erika Bradley of Charlottetown.
Oceanview Nikki ($4.70) captured the $20,240 Lady Slipper three-year-old filly trot event in 2:00 for trainer-driver McGuigan. She forged to the front in a first quarter of :29.4, was unopposed through the half in 1:00 and three-quarters in 1:30.1, and she stormed home to score in a 6-1/4-length romp. Dusty Lane Kahlua (Desroche) was second over Dibsonthecaptain (MacPherson). Oceanview Nikki won her third straight race and raised her career totals to eight wins and $75,524 in earnings in 19 starts. The E L Rocket-King Kong Kate filly is owned by Blue Diamond Racing of Emyvale P.E.I., Josh MacDonald of Little Pond, P.E.I., and Gordon Coles of Charlottetown.
The $16,400 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies were claimed by Elm Grove Uncannie ($3.70) in 2:00 for trainer Joe Baxter and driver Ken Murphy, Fallon ($3.70) in 1:58.4 for trainer-driver Adam Merner, and Hatchling ($3.60) in 1:58.3 and Bayonetta ($2.90) in 1:58.2 for a double for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Landon Campbell.
The $14,400 Grassroots divisions of the Joe O’Brien Memorial for two-year-old pacers went to Disko Bay ($2.20), stopping the clock in 2:00.2 for trainer-driver Paul Langille, Streakantonio ($5.60), wiring the field in 2:00 for driver Barrieau and trainer Ron Matheson, Rollwiththewarden ($2.80), dominating in 1:59 with trainer-driver Corey MacPherson, and St Patricks Morn ($21.10), scoring the upset in 2:01.1 with Ken Murphy steering for trainer Alan MacDonald.
Live racing continues on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)