Upsets were abound in divisions of the Lady Slipper and Joe O'Brien Memorial at Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday, September 30, with only one favourite emerging victorious in stakes action.
Sock It Away was the only post time favorite to win in gold divisions of the stakes for two-year-old pacers at the capital oval. Marc Campbell sent the son of Pang Shui off the front and scored one of his three wins of the night, taking a $10,000 Joe O'Brien Gold Division in 1:56.4.
Sock It Away is trained by Kevin MacLean for owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. Oceanview Magnum was second with Doublejacksandaces third.
Half Cut scored a mild upset in the other O'Brien Gold Division with a 1:59.1 victory for driver Mark Bradley, trainer Tom Weatherbie and owners Kyle Gardiner and Mike Currie of Cardigan, Joseph Gardiner of Mount Stewart and Jerry MacKinnon of St. Peters Bay. Dustylanewesty was second with Dustylanesam finishing third.
A pair of O'Brien Grassroots divisions were held with $6,200 purses. The winners were Woodmere Ideal Art in a 2:00.2 score and Dangle Ona Dime in 1:59.2.
Scarlet Desire scored at 15-1 in 1:59.2 in the first $11,000 Lady Slipper Gold Division. Driven by Marc Campbell, who also trains the daughter of Western Paradise, Scarlet Desire competes for owner Gordon MacLean. Heavy favourite Royaltywestho was second with Saulsbrook Coral finishing third.
The other $11,000 Lady Slipper Gold division was a wire-to-wire score for Elm Grove Mistress and trainer-driver Earl Smith in 1:59.1 at 7-1 odds, defeating post-time favourite Elm Grove Misty, with Woodmere Ceilidh finishing thrid.
Elm Grove Mistress is owned by Islanders Peter Smith of Charlottetown, Larry Chappell of Marshfield and Gerald Morrissey of Vernon Bridge along with Arnold Hagen of Bible Hill, N.S.
The $7,100 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions were claimed by Tobins Terror in 2:00.1 and Woodmere Saphire in 2:01.1.
Adkins Hanover was on top at every call as he visited the winners' circle in the $2,550 preferred pace for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que. Time of the mile was 1:54.4 with Carracci Hanover second and Forever Paradise third.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores Charlottetown)