Driver Jason Hughes positioned Winter Blast towards the middle of the pack and tipped the 14-1 shot off the rail by three-quarters and swooped to a three-quarter length victory in the $2,500 Preferred Pace at Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Diggin In dashed to the top, leading Cartoon Daddy and Elm Grove Kaboom, moving first over, through a :28.1 opening quarter. Elm Grove Kaboom advanced to take the lead heading to the half while Cartoon Daddy pulled from third for the lead through a :55.4 clocking.
Elm Grove Kaboom and Cartoon Daddy fought neck and neck to three-quarters as Old Buck gapped cover second over, leaving a seam for Winter Blast to angle off the rail by the 1:25.3 station. Winter Blast drew into contention wide of the top two into the stretch and edged past runner-up Elm Grove Kaboom to win in 1:56.1. Cartoon Daddy, sent the 6-5 favourite, finished third.
Owned by Danny Birt, Winter Blast, a six-year-old gelding by Sand Shooter from the Admirals Galley mare Blizzard Babe, won his fifth start in 14 starts this season and his 22nd in 130 overall, earning $116,008. Jennifer Doyle trains the $31.90 winner.
Sodwana Bay swept to the lead after the half and strolled to a 1:56.3 victory as the odds-on favourite in the $2,350 Open Mares Pace.
The five-year-old mare by No Pan Intended sat fourth while Traces Of Purple posted a :29.1 opening quarter on the lead. Trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau moved the favourite first over to the half, taking a narrow lead in :59.1. Sodwana Bay held a length advantage by three-quarters in 1:27.3 and maintained her lead through the wire while Ramblinglily, splitting horses, took second from Traces Of Purple holding third.
Wayne Mac Rae and Howmac Farms Ltd. own the daughter from the No Nukes mare Paradise Cove. Winning her eighth race in 27 starts this season and her 14th in 65 overall, Sodwana Bay, earning $118,695, returned $3.50 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.