Driver Gilles Barrieau pulled off a sweep of the opening round of the Spud Island Classic Later Closer for open pacing mares with even-money favourite General Luckypercy and 9-1 upsetter Kaylas Sophia on Saturday evening at Charlottetown Driving Park.
Barrieau sent Jackie Matheson trainee General Luckypercy to the lead from post nine in the first of two $2,250 divisions and delivered a 1:57 victory by one and three-quarter lengths over Dreaming (Norm Myers) and Euphoria Seelster (Brian MacPhee).
The six-year-old Blissfull Hall mare earned her third (consecutive) victory in 10 starts this year for owners Jodilyn Matheson of Cambridge, Ont. and Jack Brown, Stratford of P.E.I. Her other seasonal wins include the Lobster Carnival Late Closer Final and a leg of the Atlantic Mares Pacing Series.
In the following division, Kaylas Sophia wore down favourite Skylark Hanover (Brodie MacPhee) and held off Private Joke (John Holmes) by a head to win in 1:55.1, coming within three-fifths of a second of the track record for aged pacing mares. Skylark Hanover finished less than one length behind in third.
Ron Chamberlain conditions the six-year-old daughter of Apaches Fame, who also earned her third straight victory. Kaylas Sophia, a winner of four races in 28 starts this year, is owned by Dale Orr of Oak Bay, N.B.
In this week's $2,200 Preferred Pace, Aled Hanover rallied wide from the backfield at the half and sprinted away to a 12-1/2 length victory in 1:53.1 for driver Alex Sobey and trainer Dale Sobey. The five-year-old Western Hanover gelding earned his third win in eight seasonal starts for owner Ronald Hall, Wallace, N.S.
The Spud Island Classic Series continues next Saturday, August 11 and wraps up on the following Saturday, August 18 with a $4,500 (added) final and $2,500 consolation.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.