Trotters were all the rage during Thursday’s 11-race card at the Charlottetown Driving Park, as the half-miler hosted four divisions of the Lady Slipper Stake.
Mile Hill Willie recovered from an early miscue to win the opening split for two-year-olds in 2:05.1 for trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau. The son of Armbro Barrister-Pumpkin Doodles overcame an 11-length deficit at the half by rallying home in :30 to win by a neck over Dusty Lane Mavis in 2:05.1. Race favourite Now Look At Here was third.
It was the first win in five tries for the freshman who is owned by Paul Morrison of Cardigan, PE. The colt owns a 1-0-1 record from five tries and has banked just over $6,500 along the way.
Dusty Lane Titan made it back-to-back wins thanks to his 2:04.2 triumph in the second division for trainer/driver Marc Campbell. The two-year-old son of Tad The Stud-Starinthesky led through fractions of :31.1, 1:01.3 and 1:33.4 before cruising home in :30.3 to win by 7-1/2 lengths over Jareds Courage. Windemerebarrister was a distant third.
The gelding, who is owned by Grayland Farm of Pugwash, NS, now boasts a 2-2-0 record from five trips to the track. He’s managed to bank over $10,000 to date.
West River Cindy hauled home the hardware in the first $7,500 division for the three-year-old trotters. The filly used come-from-behind tactics to win in 2:00.3 for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald. She stormed home in :29.3 to win by 6-1/4 lengths over Oceanview Eunomia. Third prize went to Daisy River.
Haley Shepherd of Stratford, PE owns the daughter of Armbro Barrister-Pannacotta Hanover. After going 0-for-10 as a rookie, the sophomore has followed-up with a 4-2-0 record this season from just six trips to the track. The lion’s share of the loot bumped her overall bankroll to $22,932.
Buckaroo took the other division for the three-year-olds, and he did so in an impressive clocking of 2:00.1 for trainer/driver Marc Campbell. The gelding led through fractions of :30.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30.2 before kicking home in :29.4 to win by 8-1/4 lengths over A Pure Heart. Rounding out the top three was Dustylaneambyr.
Sent off as the odds-on favourite, the son of Tad The Stud-Buckling Banbury is now a four-time winner this season and a 10-time winner to date for Larry & Kathy Chappell of Marshfield, PE. The square-gaiter has banked close to $43,000 to date.
On the undercard, Freddie survived an adventurous trip to take home top prize in the $1,950 Open Handicap Trot for trainer/driver Marc Campbell. The 43-time winner kicked home in :30 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Majian Tango in 2:00.1. The show dough went to Professor Gordon.
Now boasting a 6-3-0 record from 10 starts this season, the six-year-old son of Majestic Son-Circe Hanover upped his lifetime earnings to $126,729 for Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston, PE.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.