In control from the start, Sodwana Bay remains the Queen of the Open Mares ranks as she hit the wire first in the $15,217 Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series Final presented by Standardbred Canada at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
In line to trainer Gilles Barrieau, Sodwana Bay left well from post 6 and found the lead before the opening quarter of 28.4. The half was reached in 58.2 with Sodwana Bay seeing no challengers with the third quarter much the same in 1:27. Traces Of Purple (Driven by Marc Campbell) was parked out the duration of the race, not seeing the pylons before the three-quarter pole. Sodwana Bay then fought back a late charge from Traces Of Purple in the stretch drive to win in 1:56.1 while West River Ambyr (Steven Shepherd) rallied to finish third.
A six-year-old daughter of No Pan Intended, Sodwana Bay is owned by Wayne MacRae of Fall River, NS and Howmac Farms Ltd of North Wiltshire, PE.
Barrieau scored a grand slam on the all stakes program including a trio from his own barn. Barrieau’s colts won both $11,000 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold divisions for three-year-old colt pacers.
Red Dirt Boomer won one split for his sixth straight win in 1:57.2 for trainer-driver Barrieau and owner Daniel Ross of Belfast, PE while A Grand Terror scored in the other split in 1:59.2 for owners MacRae and Saint John, NB owners Robert Tilley and Gart Mott.
Woodmere Oleksiak continued her divisional dominance winning her $14,000 Lady Slipper Gold division for three-year-old pacing fillies in 1:58.1 for driver David Dowling, trainer Earl Watts and owners Hollis Newson, Windemere Farms, Ric McNutt and Debbie Denney. The victory is the eighth in a row for the daughter of Articulator.
Dowling and Watts upset in the other $14,000 Lady Slipper Gold split in 1:58.4 with After The Lovin for owners Windemere Farms of Hampshire and River Valley Management of Saint John, NB.
Dowling made three trips to the winner’s circle to continue his lead in the Prince County driving title as Flowersonthebeach won an $8,000 O’Brien grassroots division in 2:00.3 for trainer Jeff Wallace of Alberton.
The lone Lady Slipper two-year-old trot division saw Tequila Tuesday leave well from post 8 to clear the lead and widen his advantage to win by three lengths in 2:04.2 for driver Myles Heffernan, Sr., trainer Myles Heffernan, Jr., and owner Jackie Heffernan of Summerville.
The three-year-old Lady Slipper trot divisions carried a $9,500 purse with Mile Hill Willie rewarding his backers in 2:00.3 in the first split for driver Barrieau and owner-trainer Paul Morrison of Cardigan.
Gettin Messi had an 11-length romp in the other $9,500 division as the Maritime Champion won his fifth straight stakes event for driver Mike McGuigan, trainer Len McGuigan and owner Jamie Whalen of Avondale.
(Red Shores)
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Summerside Raceway.