Navalny guarded the rail and made every call a winning one in the $3,750 feature pace on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Brady Sweet engineered the front-end journey with the Jeff Holmes trainee and kept the seven-horse field at bay through a 1:56 trip. A seven-year-old gelding by Control The Moment, Navalny is owned by Dale and Ronnie Rennie Inc., of Elmsdale, P.E.I. T H Boomtown (Driven by David Dowling) was second best with Gator Hanover (Adam Merner) completing the triactor ticket. Navalny paid $3.90 to win.
The Bevan Bros. Plumbing & Heating pace in Race 5 carried a $3,700 pot and saw Bettim Alive ($8,40) prevail in a blanket finish. Jason Hughes guided the Lazarus N colt to a neck decision in 1:57.4 for trainer Jeff Lilley holding off Five Star Dragon (Merner) and Friar Voltaire (Brady Sweet).
Driver Merner stole the show with four winners, capturing the opener with Regret Nothing ($8.20) in 2:00.2 for trainer Earl Watts, the third race with No Mo Fear ($10.10) in 1:56.1 for trainer Paul Doyle, and with a pair of his own trainees back-to-back in the sixth and seventh races courtesy Check Your Source ($10.80) in 1:57 and Sports Teller ($3.60) in 1:57.2.
Stratford reinsman Jason Hughes answered with three victories of his own, winning the second dash with St Charlesfireball ($20.70) in 1:58.1 for trainer Vaughan Doyle, the fourth with Texasdrifter ($18.90) in 1:57.3 for trainer Kyle Wilkie ($18.90), and the fifth with Bettim Alive.
Live racing continues Monday, Sept. 1 for a special Labour Day Program at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway. The Monday program also includes National Caretaker Appreciation Day presented by Standardbred Canada, Red Shores, PEI Harness Racing Industry Association and Prince County Horsemen’s Club. Caretakers will be recognized with merchandise and prize draws for their contribution to our industry.
For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Red Shores Charlottetown.
(Red Shores)