Trotters took centre stage at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Thursday evening as the half-mile oval hosted three divisions of the Lady Slipper Stake.
In the lone division for the three-year-old trotting fillies it was Est Non Ila Dulcis pulled off a 9-1 upset when she held on to win by a head in 2:02.1 for trainer/driver Marc Campbell. The daughter of Northern Bailey-Rich Dreams was parked past the quarter pole in :30.4 before brushing to the lead, and once she cleared she led the field through middle fractions of 1:00.1 and 1:31.1. The filly trotted home in a :31-second clip to hold on for the narrow score over Sweetwater Rukkus, with B J Carmalyte taking home third prize in the co-ed event.
Buntainwood Farm of Brackley Beach, PE owns the two-time winner, who lifted her lifetime earnings to $14,785 with the victory. The effort matched her lifetime best clocking.
The first of two divisions for two-year-old trotters went to Money Show, who survived a first-over trip to win in 2:05.4 for Team White. Kuri White tucked the daughter of Cash Hall-Southwind Bethany into the three-hole in the early stages of the mile before marching first over and taking on the tempo-setting Taliesin through middle panels of 1:01.2 and 1:33.2. Taliesin folded in the late going, but Money Show dug in and drove off to win by 1-1/2 lengths over stablemate Dusty Lane Nick in 2:05.4. Windemere George was third.
Trainer Blayne White of Belle River, PE shares ownership on the maiden-breaking youngster with Bill Andrew of Calgary, AB. The win improved her rookie record to 1-3-0 from just four trips behind the starting gate. The lion’s share of the purse bumped her earnings to $7,782.
The second division for the freshmen went to Callum and trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault in a career-best clocking of 2:06.1. The son of Northern Bailey-Safe House was 15 lengths off the lead at the half, but he used a strong, back-half surge to win in rallying fashion by 1-1/2 lengths over Irish Lullaby. Rash Statement rounded out the top three finishers.
Sent off at odds of 5-1, Callum improved his rookie record to 2-0-1 in eight tries for owner/breeder Dr. George Irving of Irishtown, NB. The colt has banked $9,896 to date.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.