By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Fight Song capitalized for an open-length victory in the Thursday evening Open Trot on a night full of healthy payouts at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The $4,200 Open Trot saw heavy favourite Buckhead Ridge (Driven by Marc Campbell) made a rare break at the start, allowing Fight Song ($6.50) to surge to the lead from post 4 and open up to win by seven-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:57. Jason Hughes was in the race bike behind the Ashley Gamester trainee for owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge. Desert Hayz (Gilles Barrieau) snagged second ahead of Glider Man (Ken Murphy) to complete a solid $562.70 triactor ticket.
Hughes would make the trotting feature a cornerstone of a driving hat trick, winning race 5 with Graceful Moment ($15.30) in 1:57.2 for trainer Trevor Easter on top of a $1,270.40 triactor ticket and in the race 13 finale with Acefortyfour Dome ($34.40) in a sparkling 1:54.3, again for trainer Gamester. That race-13 closer has Elm Grove Mistress (Murphy) second over Steady Heart (Barrieau), fueling a $972.70 triactor and underlining a training double for Gamester on the program.
Not to be outdone, Corey MacPherson matched the hat trick with three stylish steering wins, starting his roll in race 3 as Catchafewrays ($5.40) edged Stonebeachlily (Colin Sheppard) in 1:57.2 for conditioner Ken Wilkie. MacPherson returned in race 7 when Rosieallover ($31.60) got up late for trainer Carson Wilkie in 1:57.4, another bomb that ignited a $340.10 triactor, and completed the triple in race 10 guiding his own trainee Redland Peaches ($10.30) to a crisp 1:57 score.
The $4,450 pacing feature in race 12 had Miss Dutton ($6.10) dig in to win in a sizzling 1:53.3 for trainer Chris MacKay, holding off a flying Sugar Bowl (Brady Sweet) in the lane with Tobins Brownie (Adam Merner) third to top a $1,047.10 triactor ticket.
Live racing continues Saturday evening at 6 P.M., at Red Shores Charlottetown.
