Sodwana Bay was second under the finish line in Thursday’s $2,800 Fillies & Mares Open at the Charlottetown Driving Park, but she wound up earning the win following a disqualification.
Berazzled shot to the top in the six-mare affair and she rolled the field through fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:28.2 before making a break in stride. She managed to regain her composure before putting up a :28-second closing quarter en route to posting the win by three-quarters of a length over pocket-sitting Sodwana Bay in 1:56.3. Arc Light was a lapped-on third.
The inquiry sign was posted following the race, however, and the judges ruled that Berazzled’s break caused interference past the three-quarter pole to the pocket-sitting Sodwana Bay. As a result, Sodwana Bay was lifted from second to first and Berazzled was first placed second.
Trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau watched Sodwana Bay improve her 2020 record to 3-2-1 from seven starts with the win. The 38-time winner is closing in on $220,000 in lifetime earnings. The seven-year-old daughter of No Pan Intended-Paradise Cove is owned by Wayne MacRae and Howmac Farms Ltd.
Some history was made at the half-mile oval when Mile Hill Willie rallied to a 1:59.3 score in a $2,000 conditioned trot for driver Gilles Barrieau. The four-year-old son of Armbro Barrister-Pumpkin Doodles shave one-fifth of a second off the track record for older trotting horses. The former record of 1:59.4 was established in 2002 by Maple Leaf Hawk.
Trainer Paul Morrison co-owns the record setter with John Breau of Shediac Cape, NB. The victory was the first of the season for the 13-time winner.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.