Touch Of Lightning used his gate speed and rated fractions to win the Saturday night feature at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The time of the mile was a sparkling 1:55.4.
Driver Earl Smith pointed the former Breeders Crown champion to the front in the $2,250 Preferred with Cabo Pan Lucus (Vince Poulton) releasing him en route to the opening quarter in :28.2. The half was clocked in :58.3 with the three-quarter station reached in 1:27.1. Mcjestic (Walter Cheverie) rallied up the passing lane to finish second with Cabo Pan Lucas putting up a hard fought third.
The victory was Touch Of Lightning’s second in a row for P.E.I. owners Peter Smith of Charlottetown, Don Smith of Pownal, Larry Chappell of Marshfield and Gerald Morrissey of Vernon Bridge.
For All We Know beat her stablemate General Luckypercy in 1:57.1 to take the $2,250 Mares Open on the program. Gary Chappell did the driving for owner Bruce Wood of Marshfield, P.E.I. and trainer Jackie Matheson.
Matheson recorded a training triple with Artners In Crime and Oakrock Almighty also scoring top honours. Chappell, who recently notched his 2,500th career win, laid down the framework for his hat-trick when he teamed up with Earl Watts trainees Howmac Royale and Sinners In Heaven earlier in the night.
Zip The Lip pushed his streak to three after claiming the $1,850 Open Trot for Brian MacPhee, trainer Donald Sweet and his co-owner Orville Willis of O’Leary, P.E.I. The trotter powered off the wings from post six to lead the field through splits of :29.1, 1:00.2 and 1:31 before cruising home in :29.1 seconds to stop the timer in 2:00.1. Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault) was second with Pleasure Girls third.
Hopedale Dora wired the other trot class in 2:05.1 for driver Joey Pineau and Ken MacInnis of Charlottetown.
Driver Ron Matheson posted two winners on the card.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)