By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The square-gaiters owned the night Thursday across five P.E.I. Colt Stakes divisions at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The rookie colt trotters kicked it off in a $13,500 P.E.I. Colt Stakes division in race 2 as West River Karuna ($2.10) controlled every step in 2:02.1 for driver Ken MacDonald and trainer Clare MacDonald, drawing clear by five lengths for owner Haley MacDonald. Hoponarocket (Driven by Mike McGuigan) was a solid second, with Nikway Rocks It (Myles Heffernan Sr.) third.
The two-year-old filly trotters (race 5) produced the night’s first stakes shocker in a $13,500 bout as Miss Gracie Ridge ($15.40) got up late to nail Roseys El Girl (Ken Murphy) on the line in 2:01.4 for trainer, driver and owner Ambyr Campbell.
Race 7’s second $13,500 rookie colt split saw the streaking Little Louis ($2.10) make it six straight, cruising in 2:02.1 for Corey MacPherson and trainer Kuri White for East Coast Captains. Mr Old Home Week (Ryan Desroche) chased throughout to hold second with Howmac Prime Time (Marc Campbell) completing the ticket.
Three-year-old colts lined up in race 9 for $19,100 and West River Jet ($14.50) stole the spotlight, turning back the unbeaten Bless Me Father (Marc Campbell) with a sharp 1:57.2 front-end score for driver Ken MacDonald, owner Haley MacDonald and trainer Clare MacDonald. Fire The Rocket (Jason Hughes) was third.
The sophomore trotting fillies (race 11) capped the stakes with a stable exactor as Oceanview Nikki ($2.30) and trainer-driver McGuigan sprinted home in 1:59.3 to reel in pacesetter Supreme Rockette (Gilles Barrieau) for owners Blue Diamond Racing, Josh MacDonald and Gordon Coles. Majian Mystery (James Ripley) was third.
The $3,500 Town of Stratford 30th Anniversary Pace went to Shake N Blake ($13.10) who stole the show, surging from off the pace to nail the victory in 1:57.1 for driver Ken Murphy, who tripled on the evening, and trainer Jennifer Doyle, who had a training double.
Also on the 14-dash card, driver Marc Campbell had a driving triple and trainer Tom Weatherbie nabbed two wins from his Charlottetown stable.
Live racing continues Saturday with a P.E.I. Colt Stakes doubleheader with programs at 12 P.M. and 6 P.M.
For more go to Redshores.ca.
