The PEI Colt Stakes continued with pacers in the spotlight during Saturday’s double-header at Charlottetown Driving Park
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Two-year-olds were featured during the afternoon card and Astronomical Union kicked off the stakes action with a 1:57.2 eight length romp in the first of five $5,600 divisions for the colts and geldings. Marc Campbell drove the chestnut son of Astronomical to his second win and fastest in eight starts for trainer Albert Davies and owner Reginald MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I. The gelding’s first win also came at Charlottetown in an Atlantic Sires Stakes division on August 17.
Driven by Mike Stevenson, Mr Thompson survived a first over journey and stuck a neck out in front at the wire to win the next colt division in a new mark of 1:59 over pacesetter Island Lexus. The Articulator gelding is now two-for-six in his career for conditioner Wayne Bell and Island owners Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast.
Extending his unbeaten record to four, the Sean Dooley-trained Big League was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:59 in rein to Kenny Aresenault. The son of Four Starzzz Shark, a Callbeck Stakes and Williamson Memorial Stake winner, missed his mark by one-fifth of a second. He is owned by the Dooley Boys Racing Stable of Halifax, N.S., and Cheryl Geldart Greer of Norton, N.B.
Pacesetter Obamanator and driver Gilles Barrieau held off slight favourite Acton Onelasttime to win the final colt division by a head in a lifetime-best 2:00.2. Dr. Hugh J. Baird of Hampton, N.B. trains, owns and bred the Carlspur colt, who now has four wins (including two Atlantic Sires Stakes splits) in 10 starts on his record. For Barrieau, the win was his 3,500th of his career.
Lyndale Royal, driven by Brodie MacPhee, concluded the stakes action for the freshman colts with a career-best 1:58 winning performance. The Force Of Life gelding, a four-time Atlantic Sires Stakes winner, advanced to the lead past the half and cruised to his fifth win in eight starts for trainer Terrence Affleck and owner David MacDonald of Belfast, P.E.I.
Tobins Knockout overcame early interference caused by breaker Bettim Theresa and rallied three-wide at the three-quarters mark to capture the first of four $6,800 divisions for the fillies. Mark Bradley guided the 5-1 shot to the half-length victory in 2:02.2. The Coastocoast Yankee filly earned her second (consecutive) win in six starts for trainer Frank Hansen and owners Malcolm Williams of Ellerslie, P.E.I. and Allan Williams of Oakville, Ont.
A As Glory romped to a six and a half length score in the next filly split, winning in a career-best 1:59 with trainer Gillies Barrieau in the bike. Andrew Ward of Saint John, N.B. owns and bred the brown Carlspur miss, who is now a three-time winner in five starts.
Streaking filly J J Maywest advanced to the lead from Post 9 and front-stepped her way to a victory in 2:00.2. The daughter of Western Paradise recorded her sixth win in eight starts for trainer Blaine McKenna, who also co-owns with Gary Aitken of Summerside, P.E.I. She now boasts victories in the Callbeck Stakes, Atlantic Sires Stakes, and a Gold division of the Lady Slipper Stakes.
Trainer-driver Marc Campbell and Greenoaks Farm’s Malabrigo then cruised to a four and a half length win in the final filly frosh division, stopping the clock in 1:59.4, a new lifetime best. The Western Paradise miss is now five-for-six in her career with wins also in the Callbeck Stakes and Atlantic Sires Stakes.
Three-year-old pacing colts took center stage on the evening card and Tobins Fortune was the first of four colt winners thanks to his 1:58 wire-to-wire effort in his $6,500 event. Todd Trites drove the Henry Smallwood trainee to his second win of the season in 14 starts. The Western Paradise gelding is owned by Debbie, Peter and Gregory Francis of Windsor, N.S.
Maritimer converted from the pocket to win his division in 1:59 with Arsenault aboard. The Full Scholarship colt has won half of his 10 starts this year including multiple Atlantic Sires Stakes divisions for trainer George Rennison and owners Barbara Pearl of Hants Co, N.S. and Whim Farms of Rothesay, N.B.
Howdidchado also used a two-hole trip to his advantage for a 1:59.7 win in the next colt division. The Signyourlifeaway gelding, a winner of five races in 16 starts this year (including an Atlantic Sires Stakes division), is co-owned by trainer-driver Terry Gallant and J. Fred Lamont of Calgary, Alta.
Arsenault headed back to the winner’s circle with the pocket-pulling Turntherigaround after wearing down pacesetter Pownal Bay Cooper to win in 1:59.3 by a half length. The Arcane Hanover gelding, a winner of two races in 10 starts this season, is trained and co-owned by Sean Dooley as part of the Dooley Boys Racing Stable.
Shaun MacIsaac’s Charolettes Maggie continued her successful debut season with a 1:57.3 triumph in the first of four $6,350 sophomore filly divisions. Barrieau sent the Royal Mattjesty miss first up from fourth and she kicked away home to win for the ninth time in 13 starts, by two lengths. Tom Weatherbie conditions the Gold Lady Slipper and Frank And Beth Stanfield Memorial winner.
The Nick White-trained Acton Noisey, owned by Stephen Morton of Windsor, N.S., sent Trites back to victory lane after converting from the pocket to win her division in a career-best 1:59.2. The victory was the Harrods filly’s second in 11 seasonal starts.
Yankee No More inherited the lead when Thought Of made an early break and the Western Paradise lass continued on to score a two length victory in 2:00 with Mark Bradley in the sulky. Darren Smith trains and co-owns the homebred filly, who now three-for-nine in 2011, with Ernest Smith of Cornwall, P.E.I.
The Barrieau-trained and driven Diamond Coast rallied home off cover to win the final division in 1:59. The Coastocoast filly, who has won three times in 16 starts this year, is owned by Dan Belliveau of Halifax, N.S.
In regular racing action, six-year-old Nikes Image gelding Saulsbrook Balance trotted to a two length victory in 2:01.4 –- his sixth in 13 starts this year -- in the $1,500 Open Trot with Willie Murphy at the reins. Cynthia MacDonald trains and co-owns the career winner of over $75,000 with Tanya MacKinnon of Souris, P.E.I.
Another highlight of the day came when six-year-old Goliath Bayama pacing mare Everything Zen extended her win streak to five with a 2:00.3 victory in her afternoon claiming assignment for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer-owner Mitchell Tierney.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click on the following links: