With a brush and a crush, Malignity won the P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series Gold final, presented by Kays Wholesale, on Saturday evening, Aug. 31 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Paul Langille trains and drives the four-year-old son of Malicious who went first-over and captured the $13,000 Gold final in 1:53.3 by a quarter of a length for Nova Scotia owners Debbie Francis, Roseanne Langille and Chantell Langille. Fern Hill General (Brodie MacPhee) was second while early pacesetter Island Beach Boy (Adam Merner) garnered third. Malignity paid $15.80 for the upset as he notched just his third win of the season from 10 starts after going 11-for-14 in sophomore stakes action last year.
The $10,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Grassroots final provided driver Damian MacLellan the biggest win of his young career when favourite Howmac Maximus went all the way in 1:54.3 for trainer Tammy Collings and owner Brett MacDonald of Freelton, Ont. Outrageous Show (Brady Sweet) was second best ahead of Brookdale Johnny (Langille). The five-year-old Articulator gelding paid $4.70 to win.
Trainer Jennifer Doyle tripled on the night winning with Sharky (1:56.2) in race seven and Luckiestmanalive (1:54.2) in race 14, both in line to MacLellan with the driving triple, along with First Glance (1:54) for driver David Dowling in race 12.
Ashley Gamester doubled up from her barn with Silken Sweet (1:58) in race four and Century Invictus (1:57.1) in race six, with Jason Hughes in the driver’s seat for the pair.
Live harness racing continues on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. during a special Labour Day program at Red Shores Summerside.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores; photo of Malignity from a previous win)