Traces Of Purple and Sodwana Bay topped a pair of $2,700 Open distaff divisions co-featured on Saturday night's harness racing card at Charlottetown Driving Park.
Traces Of Purple touched down on the lead during the opening quarter before Collective Wisdom retook, but then swept by that foe and the unshakable favourite Jordies Hope in the passing lane to win the first division in 1:56.3.
Marc Campbell was in the sulky for trainer/owner Robert Phillips as the five-year-old Brandons Cowboy mare earned her second win of the year from eight starts following a four-race streak of third-place finishes.
Driven by trainer Gilles Barrieau in the second five-mare affair, Sodwana Bay went from third to first after Drivingthedragon N had cut across the track swiftly leaving the gate. The 1-9 favourite then rebuffed a third quarter challenge from Woodmere Chella to score in 1:57.4 by one length. Innocent Kiss closed off Woodmere Chella's cover and just got by her at the wire for the runner-up honours.
Sodwana Bay has finished no worse than second in 10 starts this year competing against the top Atlantic mares. She posted victories in seven of those starts (including her last three) to push her total win count to 29. The six-year-old No Pan Intended mare, whose career earnings top $178,000, is owned by Wayne MacRae and Howmac Farms Ltd.
The $3,000 Preferred Pace went to 17-1 longshot Down On My Luck, who turned his luck around when he circled the field in the stretch for the 1:55.1 upset in rein to Walter Cheverie for trainer Patrick Shepherd and owner Robert Woodburn.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.