History was written on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, where Gilles Barrieau piloted an astonishing nine winners on the 14-dash program, capped by a dramatic Preferred Pace victory with Twin B Tuffenuff in the finale.
The night began with Barrieau sending rookie Cattle Call ($4.20) straight to the point in Race 1, and the two-year-old never looked back, stopping the clock in 1:57 for trainer Ronnie Matheson.
That victory set the tone for what was to come.
Race 3 was more Barrieau as the New Brunswick native guided freshman Woodmere Mahomes ($2.10) to an effortless score in 1:57 for his own stable. Then, in Race 4, Barrieau bided his time with No Mo Fear ($3.10) before springing late to deliver in 1:57.1 for trainer Paul Doyle.
By Race 5 the momentum was undeniable for the New Brunswick Sports Hall Of Fame Driver, as Evil Lou ($4.40) turned on the jets in 1:54.4 for trainer Mike McGuigan, marking Barrieau’s fourth victory of the night.
In Race 7, Barrieau was soon back at it as he cut the fractions with Rockemsockem Scott ($4.60) to win in 1:54.4 for trainer Matheson, then came right back to the winner’s circle in Race 8 with Check Your Source ($5.20), scoring in 1:56.4 for trainer Adam Merner.
Barrieau prevailed again in Race 11 by rating Jewels Dragon ($6.70) perfectly on the front end, stopping the clock in 1:55.2 for trainer Landon Campbell.
Veteran pacer Ashes To Ashes ($3.50) added more to the tally in Race 12 with a 1:56.2 triumph from the Matheson Barn, giving Barrieau his eighth winner of the night – matching his previous personal best set on Dec. 2, 2006, at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B., and erasing the former Red Shores Charlottetown single-card record of seven wins set by him on Sept. 19, 2015 and tied by David Dowling in 2022.
But history demanded more this time, and Barrieau delivered in the finale. Barrieau lined up with Twin B Tuffenuff ($11.90) from post eight in the $5,000 Preferred 2 Pace. The veteran Rock N Roll Heaven-In The Pink stallion left hard from the outside to strike front after the quarter in :27.1, then released the heavily favoured Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) and sat the pocket past the half in :55.2 and through three-quarters in 1:24.3. Twin B Tuffenuff and Barrieau pounced in the stretch drive and roared past the pacesetter to win in 1:52.3 for trainer Matheson’s fourth of the night, this time for owner Patrick Morris of Charlottetown, P.E.I. Twin B Tuffenuff's win improved the 10-year-old's record to 48-for-211 lifetime and his earnings to $811,229. It was not only the fastest mile of the night, but also Barrieau’s ninth winner – a feat that hadn't been accomplished in the Maritimes in 83 years.
The victory eclipsed the long-standing modern-day eight-win marks in Atlantic Canada. Mike Lachance accomplished the feat on Aug. 3, 1982, during a 16-dash super card at Fredericton Raceway, while Steve Mahar matched it on Sept. 8, 1993 at the same New Brunswick oval. Barrieau himself had equalled the benchmark with eight wins at Exhibition Park Raceway in 2006. His nine-win masterpiece now stands as the all-time P.E.I. driving record for a single card and the modern Maritime record. Joe O’Brien’s 11 victories at Truro Raceway 83 years ago in 1942 remains the historic goal post on the all-time Atlantic Canadian ledger.
From start to finish, the Sept. 6, 2025 card belonged to Gilles Barrieau. The reinsman's brilliance benefitted Matheson, who won with four of five entries on the night, all of which were driven by Barrieau. The trainer is now 35-for-174 this year.
Live racing continues Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)