Summerside Raceway packed a 13-race punch on Friday night and it featured the Lady Slipper Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.
The Lady Slipper was highlighted by two $11,800 Gold events for the fillies.
Darko took advantage of the misfortunes of others and doubled up in the first split. The Largo – Norwell Lilyharbor filly got away fifth in the field of six at the :30.1 quarter and moved to the outside towards to the 1:02.4 half. Darko dropped back to the rail at the 1:32.1 three-quarters and that appeared to be a wise move when the first-over Southview Whitney (Marc Campbell) made a break.
The leader, R Es Mary (Allan Smith), was interfered with by the breaking horse, and that opened up a lane for Darko, who was the opportunist and paced to a two and a quarter-length triumph in 2:02.3. R Es Mary stayed for second while Camco Wineette (Gilles Barrieau) was a distant third.
Ralph Annear owns and trains Darko, who is 4-1-0 in eight starts during her freshman campaign, banking $23,363.
Woodmere Humdinger converted from a pocket trip in the second Gold event. The Western Success – Woodmere Teardrop filly opened up to a five-length lead at the :30.4 quarter, but yielded to Mom Sez Im Pretty (Marc Campbell), who set the tempo in 1:02.2 and 1:33.
Trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau vacated the two-hole with Woodmere Humdinger down the lane and they nosed out Mom Sez Im Pretty at the wire, stopping the clock in a career mark of 2:03.2. Spanish Angel (Ken Arsenault) completed the top three.
Barrieau shares partnership on the filly with Elmo Caissie. Woodmere Humdinger is 2-1-2 in eights tries this season and has put $11,874 into her bank account.
There were three $5,800 Grassroots tilts.
Solana M went coast-to-coast for her third straight victory. Driven by Ryan Ellis, the Peruvian Hanover – Swinging Victoria filly cruised to a four and a half-length triumph in 2:06.1. Trained by Darren Crowe for owner Kickin Horse Stable, Solana M is three-for-seven in her young career and has earnings of $6,257.
Elm Grove Dallas overcame a first-over journey for driver Robert MacInnis and trainer Vance Cameron. A daughter of Rayson Hanover – Mystical Rose, she pulled away in the final quarter to win by four and three-quarter lengths in 2:04. Cameron co-owns the filly with Robert Gordon and they have seen her win two races and bank $5,252 in 10 starts.
Papas Little Rose took the final division for driver Walter Cheverie. The Sea Gull Hershey – Another Rose filly followed the move of N Xample Deal (Darryl Jelly) and beat her in the lane for a half-length decision in a lifetime best 2:05.3. Ronald Seymour owns and trains Papas Little Rose, who is 3-1-0 through five starts, earning $5,139.
To view Summerside’s results, click here.