Two-year-old trotters found themselves in the spotlight Thursday evening at the Charlottetown Driving Park, and fans were treated to a track record performance by Incredible Hally in the $18,700 Blair Andrew Memorial.
Incredible Hally was parked outside of Mykindofparty through an opening quarter in :30.1 before backing off to find the pocket spot. Mykindofparty trucked on and led the field to the half in 1:00.4.
They renewed their rivalry again in the backstretch when Incredible Hally popped back out and pressed Mykindofparty to the three-quarter pole in 1:32.1. Incredible Hally shook loose and used a :30-second closing quarter to win by 6-1/2 lengths over Mykindofparty in 2:02.1. Mack Truck took home the show dough.
The 2:02.1 performance knocked a full second off the track record for two-year-old trotting fillies. The former mark of 2:03.1 was established by Tyne Valley in 2014.
Trainer/driver Marc Campbell, who had five driving victories on the program, watched Incredible Hally improve her 2019 record to 2-1-1 from six starts with the record-setting performance. The daughter of Angus Hall-Credibility, who bumped her lifetime earnings to $11,052 with the win, is owned by Calvin Larkin, Erika Bradley, Brian Fogarty and Herbie MacDonald.
On the undercard it was Hop Up posting a 15-1 upset in the $2,350 Open Trot Handicap for driver Corey MacPherson.
The five-year-old daughter of Tad The Stud-Hopeful Way led through fractions of :29, 1:00.1 and 1:30.2 before kicking home in :29 to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Star Photo in 1:59.2. Freddie, who the odds-on favourite, suffered broken equipment late in the mile and settled for third prize.
Keith Campbell of Tyne Valley, PE owns and trains the 11-time winner who pushed his lifetime earnings to $33,333 with the victory.
There was a special family moment on the Thursday card as Brittany Watts celebrated her first lifetime win as a trainer on her first card of racing.
Woodmere Chella supplied the winning performance in a lifetime best of 1:55.3 with Watts’ partner David Dowling in the bike for owner Valleygrove Farms of Kensington, PE.
(With files from CDP)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park.