Badgirl Bridgette powered away from her rivals in a five-length romp in the $5,550 Fillies and Mares Preferred 1 Pace on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The Bill Lanigan-owned and trained Badgirl Bridgette ($4) sat fifth through early fractions of :27.2 and :56.4 before advancing first-over and taking command past three-quarters in 1:25.2. The four-year-old daughter of Stonebridge Terror-Whatabadgirl then opened up on the field for driver Jason Hughes as she streaked to the 1:54.3 victory. Redland Misspretty (Paul Langille) finished second with Windemere Saddy (Ken Murphy) completing the triactor.
Badgirl Bridgette won for the fifth time this season in 13 starts and is now 25-for-38 lifetime with $173,983 in her coffers.
Hughes also teamed up with trainer Ashley Gamester for a pair of victories, including a strong performance from Fight Song ($4.50) in the in the $5,500 Open Trot. The seven-year-old trotter cut fractions of :28.4, :57.2 and 1:27.1 before winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:55.3 for owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. Buckhead Ridge (Marc Campbell) finished second from the pocket, while West River Jet (Kenny Arsenault) closed for third.
Fight Song took his fourth win this year in 13 starts. The son of Kadabra-Fortunes Of Fables is 37-for-144 lifetime and has banked $275,048.
Hughes and Gamester also won with Serenity Now ($2.10) in Race 13. The three-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Silent Serenity controlled every fraction before drawing away by eight lengths in 1:54.1 for owner Kurt Hughes of Alexandra, P.E.I. Hughes began his four-win night with Howmac Charger ($7.40), who led throughout the fifth race and stopped the clock in 1:59.1 for trainer Paul Conway. The four-year-old daughter of Bet The Moon-All Charged Up won by three lengths for owners Conway of Bonshaw, P.E.I. and Zach Conway of Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Brokeandoutofgas ($3.90) captured the $4,750 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace for Canada’s leading dash-winning driver Austin Sorrie and owner-trainer Tammy Collings of Hazel Brook, P.E.I. The five-year-old Arthur Blue Chip-Onehotvett mare was fourth to the quarter in :27.3, went uncovered to the half in :56.4, cleared to the lead before three-quarters in 1:25.2 and held off Sectionline Flame (Murphy) by a head in 1:54 flat. Vibrance (Hughes) completed the triactor. Brokeandoutofgas is five-for-21 this season and has racked up 21 career wins and $70,176 in earnings in 82 outings.
Landon Campbell had three training victories on the 15-race program, beginning with Rina Labelle ($2.90) in the second race. Marc Campbell supplied the winning drive as the sophomore Greenshoe-Absynthe Hanover filly rallied to prevail by a head in 1:58.4 for owner Noreen Stymest of Debert, N.S.
Marc Campbell also steered Landon Campbell trainee Howmac Prime Time ($6.90) to a 2:02.3 victory in the fourth race for owners Savage Stable and Brad Campbell of Stratford, P.E.I. The three-year-old E L Rocket-Cheeky Little Minx gelding had a quarter-length margin at the wire.
Landon Campbell completed his triple in the eighth race, this time with the trainer in the bike behind Galway Girl ($4.40) in 1:56.4. The five-year-old daughter of Shanghai Phil-Hazel was three lengths the best for owners Kent MacDonald of Stratford, Bernard MacDonald of Mount Stewart, P.E.I. and Jacinta Campbell of Charlottetown.
Landon Campbell raised his seasonal training win total to 39 in 174 starts, bringing his win rate to 22.4 per cent.
Oneformybaby ($12.40) controlled the seventh-race pace and held off Dee (Hughes) by one length in 1:55.2. Adam Merner trains and drives the winning four-year-old Hes Watching-Poto Hanover mare for owners Ryan and Everett MacLeod of Souris, P.E.I. and Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile, Que. Merner also hit the winner’s circle in the sixth race with two-year-old Sunfire Blue Chip-Fresh Eyes filly Howmac Galway ($14.40), who won in 2:01.2 for owners Steven MacDonald of Stanhope, P.E.I and Tommy Collings of Mount Stewart.
Elm Grove Talia ($6.40) captured the 10th race in 1:56.4 for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Luke Burke and owners Kingsley Walsh of Albany, P.E.I., Frank Balcom of Amherst, N.S. and Burke. The four-year-old Stonebridge Terror-Queens Or Better mare won by 1-1/2 lengths. Barrieau and Burke also teamed up with the five-year-old Articulator-Promise Me Hanover mare Promise Me Later ($4.70), who won the finale by a length in 1:56.4 for Walsh and Balcom.
Live racing is scheduled to continue Saturday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown, featuring the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association Driving Championship.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)