If you like trotters, then the place to be on Thursday evening was the Charlottetown Driving Park as it played host to seven trotting affairs on the 12-race card.
Mabou Ridge used come-from-behind tactics to capture the first of two $7,700 divisions of the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two-year-old trotters.
Trainer/driver Clare MacDonald got away third with the odds-on favourite, who was on the move going to the half. After Mykindofparty led through first-half fractions of :29.4 and 1:00.1, it was Mabou Ridge who worked his way to the front and then had the field chasing him to the three-quarter pole in 1:31.2. A :30.2 final frame earned the gelding the one-length decision over Incredible Hally in 2:01.3. Tequila Tuesday was third.
The son of Armbro Barrister-R Rocket Rachel, who is owned by Arnold Rankin of Antigonish, NS, improved his rookie record to 5-1-0 from six starts with the victory. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his earnings to $31,042.
Dusty Lane Manney was a front-stepping winner in the other division for the tandem of driver Walter Cheverie and trainer Joseph Baxter.
The filly shot to the top from Post 3 and chopped out fractions of :32.1, 1:04.2 and 1:35.4 before sprinting home in a :30-second clip to win by 1-1/2 lengths over A Fishermans Son in 2:05.4. Go With Her took home the show dough.
Sent off at odds of 6-1, the daughter of Tad The Stud-Muscle Mannequin broke her maiden in what was her fifth lifetime attempt for owners Danica Ellis, Sheila Clarke, Ray Cruz and Mark Dean. Purchased for $8,000 from last year’s Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale, Dusty Lane Manney has pushed her lifetime earnings to $4,251 with the win.
Little Miss Winnie went to the front and didn’t look back en route to a 2:01.4 triumph in the first of three $5,700 ATSS divisions for three-year-old trotters.
Kenny Arsenault hustled the Ralph Annear trainee to the lead from Post 2, and after knifing out panels of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:30.4 the filly kicked home in a :31-second clip to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Shadow Trainer. Thelastonestanding rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Sent off at odds of 7-1, the daughter of Tad The Stud-Worth Remembering nabbed her first win of the year after going 4-for-12 in last year’s rookie season. The homebred, who boasts a bankroll that stands at $36,973, is owned by Steven Sorrie of Montague, PE.
Getting Messi extended his winner streak to four-in-a-row thanks to his blowout score in the second division for Team McGuigan.
The gelding was third and parked at the quarter pole, but Michael McGuigan hustled the gelding to the lead in the second quarter. They proceeded to lead the group through middle splits of :59.4 and 1:30.2 before using a :28.4 closing quarter to win by 6-3/4 lengths over Camco Bailey in 1:59.1. Westview Sue nabbed third prize.
Leonard McGuigan trains the son of Armbro Barrister-Hypnotic for owner James Whalen, Jr. of Vernon Bridge, PE. The 1-9 favourite now owns a 9-for-12 record this year after going just 1-for-8 last season. He’s quickly closing in on $30,000 in career earnings.
Mile Hill Willie went coast-to-coast in the third division for the team of driver Gilles Barrieau and owner/trainer Paul Morrison of Cardigan, PE.
The son of Armbro Barrister-Pumpkin Doodles whacked out fractions of :30.1, :59.2 and 1:29.3 before storming home in :29.4 to win by five lengths over Whim Road Gem in 1:59.2. Dusty Lane Mavis nabbed the show dough.
Sent off as the 1-9 choice in the six-horse affair, Mile Hill Willie improved his 2019 record to 4-1-4 from 10 tries while winning for the 11th time in his career. He’s on the verge of surpassing $40,000 in lifetime earnings.
Freddie captured the $2,350 Open Trot Handicap for trainer/driver Marc Campbell in a sharp clocking of 1:58.3.
The gelding parked past the opening quarter before working his way to the top. Once he cleared, he led the group through middle panels of :59.4 and 1:29.4. A :28.4 closing quarter was enough to earn him the win by 4-1/2 lengths over Hop Up, who captured the class last week. Star Photo rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
The seven-year-old son of Majestic Son-Circe Hanover racked up his eighth win of the season from 16 attempts while pushing his lifetime win total to 55 for the Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston, PE. The veteran has banked over $146,000 to date.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.