The two and three-year-old trotters were in full flight on Wednesday night at Red Shores' Summerside as they competed in the Lady Slipper Stakes.
The fastest of the three $5,800 freshman divisions, race three, was won by driver Steven Shepherd and Suicide Shift in 2:04.1, shaving one-fifth of a second off of the track record for two-year-old trotting colts. (Waiting On A Woman's two-year-old trotting gelding record still stands at 2:03). Shepherd fired the son of Pjs Nabby off the wings to clear after a :30.4 first quarter, then laid downs fractions of 1:02 and 1:33.3 defeating Wait For Me by over three lengths. Tyne Valley finished third. Shepherd is a co-owner on the colt along with Margo Fisher and his father Harold, who does the training.
In the seventh race division, the undefeated win streak stayed alive for Paymenowpaymelater. The two-year-old daughter of Northern Bailey extended her streak to six, winning in 2:05.4 for owner Wade Peconi and trainer Earl Watts. Oceanview Roz and Bayriver rounded out the top three finishers. Tuesday night's runner-up in the National Driving Championship at Red Shores' Charlottetown, Marc Campbell, did the driving, picking up his second victory on the card. He also picked up a victory in the fourth race aboard R Es Nancy (1:59.4), who dead-heated with Duchess Killean.
The opening division for two-year-old trotters went to Windemere Ty for co-owner/trainer Ralph Annear. His grandson Jack Panting handled the driving duties, getting the Nureyev colt up in the final strides to nail pacesetter J K Blaze in 2:05.4. Buddy The Elf was third.
In the ninth race, $8,200 division for three-year-old trotters, Gary Chappell moved closer to his 2,500th career driving victory when he guided his own trainee Dusty Lane Galaxy to the winner's enclosure. Owned by Peter Buchanan and the Estate of George Boswall, the son of Pjs Nabby made every call a winning one in 2:02.3. Playdale and Scarlet Macdream inherited second and third after a judges' placing. Chappell didn't stop there; he picked up his 2,496th win in race 10 aboard Paradise Rose (2:01.2) for a double on the night.
The other Slipper division for three-year-olds, carded as race five, went to B J Comanche in 2:03.2 for the 'Queen' of the Maritimes, Clare Macdonald. The son of Bo W fended off Southfield Shadow and J K Hustler. Bert Honkoop is the owner, trainer and breeder.
Driver Walter Cheverie picked up right where he left off from Saturday night's card in Charlottetown. Fresh off a five-bagger, he picked up two more victories, including one with his own trainee Nobestbfor in the evening's top class in race 12. Cheverie hustled him off the wings and laid down all the fractions, winning in 1:58.2. He also won with Sendmeasign in 1:58.4 in race eight.
Corey MacPherson had a driving double as well, winning with Life Savior (race 13) in a night's best 1:57.2 and with Dusty Lane Dora (race 11) in 1:57.4.
Racing returns on Saturday night in Charlottetown with a 6 p.m. post time. A special Labour Day card goes Monday at 1 p.m. in Summerside.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)