Trotters went toe-to-toe at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Thursday evening, with two and three-year-olds sparring in six divisions of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes
Rustico Redflame captured the first of three $4,400 tilts for the rookies, and she did so in a career-best clocking of 2:06.4 for driver Joey Pineau and co-owner/trainer Alyre Pineau. The daughter of Red Flamethrower-Rustico Kristen, who is co-owned by Harris Johnston of Charlottetown, PEI, parked past the half before making the lead and drawing away to win by 3-1/4 lengths over West River Victory. Border Town was third. The winner has put together a 2-1-3 record in her first eight starts while banking $10,696 along way.
Waiting On A Woman trounced the competition in the second division, winning by 13-1/2 lengths in 2:02.4 for driver Corey MacPherson and co-owner/trainer Mitch Tierney. The homebred son of Northern Bailey-Southwind Faith, who is co-owned by David Tierney of Cornwall, PEI, showed no mercy to runner-up Maple Leaf Spirit or third-place finisher B J High Melody in the $4,400 affair. Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Waiting On A Woman boosted her record to 6-1-1 in eight trips postward while lifting her cash stash over $20,000.
The Iceman Aireth earned a new lifetime mark of 2:06.3 in the final division for the freshmen square-gaiters. The son of Northern Bailey-Gracie Glide made a break getting away from the starting gate, but he managed to regain his composure for trainer/driver Marc Campbell and then rally to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Rustico Myjo. Red Lobster rounded out the top three finishers. The even-money choice improved his record to 2-3-1 in eight starts while pushing his earnings close to $12,000 for Greenoaks Farm of Mississauga, ON.
Porter got the better of six rivals by breaking his maiden in the first of three $5,400 divisions for the sophomores. The son of Nikes Image-Safe House, who was 0-for-16 going into the assignment, led the field through fractions of :30.2, 1:03.2 and 1:34.2 before kicking home in :30.4 to win in 2:05.1 for driver Kenny Arsenault and trainer Tom Weatherbie. Southfield Sam recovered from an early break to finish second while Ann Shirley was third. The gelding, who was sent off as the even-money favourite, races for owner/breeder Dr. George Irving of Irishtown, NB.
B J Eldorado extended his winning streak to four-in-a-row thanks to a 2:03 tally in the second division for owner/breeder/trainer Bert Honkoop of Montague, PEI. With Mike Stevenson at the lines, the son of Meadowagogo-Leap Year Hanover drew away to win by 1-3/4 lengths over J K Queen. Miss Toria Ridge was a well-beaten third. B J Eldorado won for the seventh time this season in nine tries, and the lion’s share of the purse bumped his earnings past the $30,000 mark.
Howmacs Amigo earned a new mark of 2:02.3 in the final stakes event, and he was fortunate to find the finish line in time for driver Earl Smith and trainer Earl Watts. The son of Amigo Hall-Wicked Whisper laid down splits of :29.3, 1:00 and 1:31.3 before using a :31-second final quarter to win by a nose over Scarlet Patti. Rustico Tapdancer finished third. Howmac Farms Ltd of North Wiltshire, PEI owns the gelding, who won for the second time this season and for the fifth time in his career.
To view Thursday’s results, click here.