Driver Brett Clow was serious all the way as he guided Mds Girl to victory in a leg of the Gamester-Pinkney Memorial Cup on Thursday (Aug. 3) evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
New Haven rookie Clow demanded the lead at the start of the Gamester-Pinkney rookie driving challenge leg with Mds Girl and found every fraction to his liking with splits of :30.2, 1:02, 1:33.1 and 2:01.3. Elm Grove Misty (Jaycob Sweet) came swinging hard to finish second with Southern Heart (Zach Conway) drafting in the two-hole to hang on for third.
Keith Ford co-owns and trains the Pang Shui mare with partners Gordon, David and Douglas Neill of Charlottetown.
The Gamester-Pinkney Memorial will continue Aug. 8 on a newly added race date at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway and the four drivers with the best summary from the two legs will advance to the final in September at the Truro Raceway.
Also on Thursday evening, Share The Moment won the race nine Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace in 1:55 from off-the-pace for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Bo Ford and owners Arnold Myers, Luke Beck, Scott Bridges and John MacDougall. In the $3,500 class, first-over attacker Dreamfair Zenfire (Marc Campbell) finish second ahead of the front-stepping Sugar Bowl (Jason Hughes).
You Aint Dolly won the $2,800 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 in 1:55.4 with Kenneth Arsenault in the bike for trainer Brendan Curran. Better Be In Love (Adam Merner) finished second and Elm Grove Mistress (Jason Hughes) was third.
Campbell made a trio of trips to the winner’s circle as he is poised to be the youngest driver to 3,000 wins in Atlantic Canadian harness racing history. Campbell won with Baskin Robin (2:02) for trainer John Clarey and Lookoveryour (1:55) and The Lady Sheriff (1:56.3), both from his own stable. The Orwell, P.E.I. driver now sits at 2,998 career victories and will be headed to Connell Park in Woodstock, N.B. on Friday evening to attempt to hit the milestone.
Driver David Dowling was also hot on the night winning with Showdown (1:58.3) for trainer Earl Watts, Shes Rockandfame (1:59) for trainer Mike Dowling and Tobins Brownie (1:56.1) from his own barn for the triple.
Live harness racing continues Saturday (Aug. 5) evening at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown and Sunday (Aug. 6) afternoon at 1 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside featuring the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies as well as for two and three-year-old trotters. The first leg of the Island Oceans Trot Classic, presented by Burkie By The Bay Stable, is also part of the program.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)