Rookie pacers dominated the first half of Saturday’s double header at the Charlottetown Driving Park, as the half-miler featured seven divisions of the PEI Colt Stakes.
Doublejacksandaces captured the first of the four $6,200 splits for colts and geldings. Trainer/driver Jason Hughes put the public’s top choice on the lead and together the led the field through fractions of :29.1, 1:00.1 and 1:29.2 before using a :29.3 kicker to win by a half-length margin over Weekend Atnannies in 1:59.1. Third prize went to Howmac Diamond.
Sent off as the 4-5 choice, the son of Shadow Play-Queens Or Better improved his freshman record to 2-1-1 from five trips postward for owner Donald Mac Rae of Vernon Bridge, PE.
J J Powerball turned a two-hole trip into a 1:57.4 triumph in the second division for the tandem of driver Gord Hennessey and trainer Austin Sorrie. The son of Image Of Dawn-NY Lotto watched Oceanview Magnum throw down fractions of :29.3, :59.2 and 1:29.1 before using a :28.1 closing quarter to win by 1-3/4 lengths over race favourite Oceanview Magnum in 1:57.4. String Busters took home third prize in the $6,200 affair.
The 8-1 upset helped J J Powerball improve his freshman record to 4-0-0 from six starts for owners Walter Simmons and Tammy Collings. It was a career-best performance for the winner of $9,463.
Sock It Away went to the front and didn’t look back in the third division en route to a track record-equalling triumph in 1:55.3 for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Kevin MacLean. Campbell chopped out splits of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:27.1 before kicking home in :28.2 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Rockin Party in 1:55.3. Rounding out the top three was Red Dirt Rebel.
Reg Mac Pherson of Stratford, PE owns photogenic youngster who improved his rookie record to 7-1-0 from eight trips postward this season. The lion’s share of the purse bumped his bankroll to $26,606.
Half Cut powered to the lead from Post 5 and kept on rolling for driver Mark Bradley, who guided the Tom Weatherbie trainee to a 1:56.1 triumph in the final division. Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Half Cut tore through panels of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:28.3 before roaring home in :27.3 to win by four lengths over Thegreatmaelstrom. Dustylanewesty was third.
The homebred son of Stonebridge Terror-Beckys Filly owns a 5-1-0 record from eight trips postward this season for the partnership of Kyle Gardiner, Joseph Gardiner, Michael Currie and Jerry MacKinnon. It was a career-best clocking for the winner of $18,885.
The first of the three $7,400 divisions for fillies went to Royaltywestho and driver Walter Cheverie. The daughter of Westwardho Hanover-Lady Kelleigh Anne was fourth and on the move at the quarter pole after starting from the second tier. She brushed to the front and carved out middle panels of :59.1 and 1:30.1 before sealing the deal with a :28.2 final frame. She drew clear to win by a pair of lengths over Maybeitsmaybelline in 1:58.3. Taking home the show dough was Cherry Pop.
Trainer Joseph Baxter shares ownership on the youngster with Gregory Francis of Windsor, NS. The 3-5 favourite extended her winning streak to three-in-a-row while improving her 2017 record to 6-1-0 from seven trips to the track. She’s banked over $27,000 in the process.
Silverhill Misty was treated to a second-over trip in her division, and she used her cover to perfection en route to posting a 19-1 upset triumph for trainer/driver Jason Hughes. R Es Shabla supplied speed splits of :30.1, :59.2 and 1:28.4, but she lacked staying power in the lane. Elm Grove Misty pressed the leader through the middle stages of the mile, but she couldn’t fend off late pressure from Silverhill Misty who kicked home in :30 to win by a half-length margin over Saulsbrook Coral in 1:59.2. Race favourite Elm Grove Misty settled for the show dough.
Kurt Hughes of Stratford, PE owns the daughter of Proven Lover-Southwind Miranda who improved her record to 3-1-1 from seven trips to the track. She’s banked just shy of $9,000 to date.
Chocolate Terror capped off the stakes-filled card by taking the final division in 1:59.1 for driver Paul Langille and Cyril MacDonald. Parked past the quarter pole in :29.2, the daughter of Stonebridge Terror-Chocolate Art muscled to the lead before carving out middle panels of :59.4 and 1:30.1. The filly then used a :29-second final frame to win by five lengths over Evening Maelstrom in 1:59.1. Windemereimalright was third.
The 4-5 favourite, who is owned by David Livingstone of Halifax, NS, now boasts a rookie record of 4-3-1 from 10 starts. She’s banked in excess of $22,000.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.