Saulsbrook Balance reunited with driver Willie Murphy and converted from the pocket to win the $1,400 Open Trot on Saturday at Charlottetown Driving Park
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With last week’s Colonel Dan Invitational Trot winner Dunmore Alpha (Ed Smallwood) making a break from the rail along with outside starter Caliban Hanover (Ronnie Gass), favourite Flashy Image (Gary Chappell) fired off the gate from Post 5 ahead of Saulsbrook Balance and Murphy. He carved out fractions of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:31.1 before Saulsbrook Balance pulled the pocket and trotted home in :30.2 to prevail in 2:02. Dusty Lane Shelby (Corey MacPherson) finished one and a half lengths behind and Flashy Image was third.
Saulsbrook Balance paid $14.00 to win as the 6-1 fifth choice in the field. The five-year-old gelded son of Nikes Image-Animated Lady notched his fourth win in 14 starts this year and 28th overall pushing his earnings to $67,522. He is owned by trainer Cynthia MacDonald of Montague and Tanya MacKinnon of Souris, PE.
The Garry MacDonald-trained and driven Formal Affair turned in an eye-catching 12 and a quarter length wire-to-wire score in the $2,400 feature pace. The five-year-old son of Real Desire-Little Black Dress left from Post 3 and marched past intervals of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24.4 before stopping the clock in 1:54.1. B J Cruiser (Gary Chappell) and San Marco Hanover (Shane Bernard) rounded out the top three.
Formal Affair paid $2.90 to win as the popular choice. He has won a quarter of his 20 races this year for owners Ronnie and Dale Rennie of Elmsdale, PE. The win marked his ninth overall and helped push his earnings to $77,120.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.