Little Louis extended his winning streak to five with a lifetime-best victory in the $21,725 Brian Andrew Memorial division for rookie trotting males on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Little Louis ($2.30) blasted out from post eight for driver Corey MacPherson and never looked back. He marched to the front in the :30.1 first quarter and reached the half in 1:01.1, and the pocket-sitting and first-over horses went off stride on the third turn, giving the leader a large cushion down the backstretch. It was all academic from there as Little Louis rolled through three-quarters in 1:32.1 and home in 2:02.1 to win by seven lengths over Hoponarocket (Gilles Barrieau). Call Of Honor (Joey Pineau) was third.
Kuri White conditions Little Louis for owner-breeder East Coast Captains of Cornwall, P.E.I. The win was the fifth from six starts for the gelding, who only tasted defeat in his career opener on July 8. The son of E L Rocket-Go With Her, who remains undefeated on Prince Edward Island, has earned $39,919.
Hallysgurl ($2.10) was a dominant winner in the $21,725 Brian Andrew Memorial two-year-old filly trot division with a 1:59.4 win. She went all the way on the front for Gilles Barrieau, bringing her four opponents through fractions of :29.4, :59.3, and 1:30. She began to build up her lead through the third station, and she crossed the line 7-1/2 lengths in front of Roseys El Girl (Ken Murphy). Bonmati (MacPherson) finished third.
Hallysgurl, trained by Darryl MacLean for owner-breeders Calvin Larkin of Mermaid, P.E.I. and Erika Bradley of Charlottetown, P.E.I, has now won four of five career starts. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Incredible Hally has earned $27,437.
Buckhead Ridge ($3.70) repeated in the Island Oceans Trot Challenge, presented by Burkie By The Bay Stable, and replicated his own all-age trotting track record with a 1:55.2 mile as he won leg three. He slotted in third early for Marc Campbell and held that position as his arch-rival, Fight Song (Jason Hughes), put up :29 and :58 fractions on the lead. Buckhead Ridge launched from third on the backstretch and was alongside the leader in a flash, pulling up to his bridle past three-quarters in 1:27.1. The pair produced a scintillating final-quarter duel, with Fight Song gaining ground on the turn but the resolute Buckhead Ridge barreling up late to win by a neck. Rocket Blast (MacPherson) completed the triactor.
Buckhead Ridge has won six of his past seven outings and is three-for-three in the Island Oceans Trot Challenge for pacers three years old and up. The gelding became the fastest trotter of all time at Charlottetown on Aug. 9 and matched that performance on Thursday. He is trained by Landon Campbell for owner Brady Doyle of Stratford, P.E.I. The five-year-old Nuncio-Tuonela gelding has tallied 18 wins and $140,127 in earnings in 53 lifetime outings.
Race 3, the Hilary & Caitlyn Keenan Memorial - Double J Farms Pace, was won by Stonebeachlily ($2.80) in 1:59.3 for driver Colin Sheppard and trainer Morgan Sheppard.
The Happy Retirement Southern Heart Pace in Race 7 was claimed by Brokeandoutofgas ($4.30) with a 1:54.4 score for driver Paul Langille, who doubled up with trainer Tammy Collings.
Marc Campbell was a three-time winner on the night to boost his Red Shores Charlottetown win total to 89 on the year. Trainers Landon Campbell, Collings, and Ashley Gamester all sent out two winners.
Live racing continues on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)