Five divisions of the PEI Colt Stakes were showcased on Thursday evening at the Charlottetown Driving Park, with two-year-old trotters sparring in three splits and sophomore trotters going toe-to-toe in the other two tilts.
The rookies kicked off the proceedings, and Taliesin beat a co-ed group of foes in wire-to-wire fashion in a career-best clocking of 2:05.4. Trainer/driver Marc Campbell hustled the son of Northern Bailey-Southview Leah through fractions of :31.4, 1:03.2 and 1:34.4 before coasting home in a :31-second clip to win by 2-1/2 lengths over race favourite Money Show. Taking home third prize was Windemere George.
Buntainwood Farm of Brackley Beach, PE owns the colt, who was a $6,000 purchase from last year’s Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale. From eight starts he’s managed to assemble a 4-1-0 record while stashing away more than $12,000.
Howmacs Pride went to the front and didn’t look back in her $4,200 division for the tandem of driver Terry Gallant and trainer Earl Watts. The daughter of Amigo Hall-Wicked Whisper whacked out panels of :31.3, 1:03 and 1:35 en route to winning by 2-3/4 lengths in a career-best clocking of 2:06.1. Crestwave Morning was second under the line, with I Aint No Lady grabbing the show dough.
Howmac Farms Ltd of North Wiltshire and Wade Peconi of Breadalbane, PE share ownership on the homebred who won for the second time in just three appearances. She’s put just over $4,000 on her card along the way.
West River Xcel took the remaining $4,200 division for the rookies, and he did so by taking a new lifetime mark of 2:06.3 for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald. The daughter of Northern Bailey-Dunmore Skye sat third past the quarter pole before making a first-over bid on the way to the half. She took over command at the three-quarter pole in 1:35.1 and used a :31.2 final quarter to lock up the win. She drew clear by 1-3/4 lengths over race favourite Irish Lullaby, with Rash Statement rounding out the top three finishers.
West River Stock Farm of Antigonish, NS bred and owns the freshman who now boasts a 3-2-0 record from seven starts. She’s hauled in more than $11,000 in earnings along the way.
In the first division for the three-year-olds it was Dusty Red Lane holding on for a narrow score in 2:02.2 after being pestered for most of the mile. Paul Lanigan marched the son of Red Flamethrower-In My Dust to the quarter pole in :30.3 before getting pressed by Sweetwater Rukkus through middle splits of 1:01.1 and 1:31.4. That first-over foe continued to chip away at Dusty Red Lane, but the William Lanigan trainee wouldn’t give in. Dusty Red Lane held on to win by a head over Sweetwater Rukkus, with B J Carmalyta a lapped-on third.
James Gorman of South Melville, PE bred and owns the four-time winner who has put together a 4-1-1 record from eight trips to the track this season. The gelding has banked more than $26,000 to date.
My Daisy Duke took the other $5,600 division for the three-year-olds in a time of 2:04.4 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Paul MacDonald. The daughter of Northern Bailey-My Dusty Lane, who was sent off as the 1-2 favourite, led through intervals of :31.3, 1:03.1 and 1:33.4 before using a :31-second closing quarter to seal the deal. She was 5-1/2 lengths better than runner-up Dusty Lane Daisy. Camco Fleming Red was a distant third.
Jonathan MacDonald of North Wiltshire, PE bred and owns the eight-time winner, who has assembled a 4-2-1 record from eight starts this season. The lion’s share of the purse helped lift her lifetime earnings over $40,000.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.