By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Brookdale Johnny landed the knockout blow in a wild finish to the Saturday afternoon Preferred Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The $5,500 Preferred 1 pace in race 13 saw Brookdale Johnny ($48.00) rally to upend the heavily favoured Matheson brigade in 1:55.4. Driver Paul Langille positioned the Rockin In Heaven gelding mid-pack early, slid second-over through the middle fractions then angled out in the lane to nail the first-over T H Boomtown (Driven by David Dowling) with fellow Matheson trainees House Edge Hanover (Ken Murphy) and Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) third and fourth, respectively. Phil Sizer trains the winning pacer for owners Doug Polley Sr., and Doug Polley Jr., of Amherst, N.S.
Sizer doubled on the day winning race 5 with Brookdale George ($13.30) in a sharp gate-to-wire effort in 1:57.2 for driver David Dowling.
The Joe & Steven MacRae Memorial Fall Series produced plenty of storylines through its trio of rich legs.
Buddysnvirgins ($6.20) captured the $6,000 opening MacRae division in race 2 in 2:01, using a ground-saving journey for driver Gilles Barrieau to track down tempo-setter Bold N Bad (Brett Clow) in the final strides for trainer Darrell Neill.
Five Star Dragon ($5.60) secured the first of the $7,000 MacRae splits in race 4 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Vaughan Doyle, just holding off a charging Rosiesmightymoe (Gilles Barrieau) in 1:59.1.
Dylan Sam ($10.60) delivered in the other $7,000 MacRae division in race 7, pacing home strong in 1:59.1 for driver Brady Sweet and conditioner Allan Gregory.
Doctor Grenfell ($76.10) lit up the toteboard in race 6, storming home from the back to win in 1:58.2 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Nicholas Oakes, collared late leader Woodmere Sinatra in the final strides and keying massive exotic payouts. The Oakes Stable had another win in the opener for the double as Brigus ($5.10) set the tone early with driver Gilles Barrieau to win by four-lengths in 1:56.4.
Murphy tripled as a driver winning with All Bettor ($4.60) in 2:00.3 in race 8 and Redland Sampson ($11.00) in 2:01.4, both for his father, conditioner Clifford Murphy.
The PEISHOA dash in race 11 delivered a sharp performance from Neptune Seelster ($17.80) in 1:58 for driver Adam Merner and trainer Michael Gallant.
Another upset came in race 12 as Blue Moose ($19.40) turned back all challengers in 1:58.1 for lifetime training win 300 for veteran horseman Harold Shepherd, who also did the driving.
The finale in race 14 saw High Praise ($3.40) complete his fourth-straight victory with a 1:56 mile for trainer Jennifer Doyle and driver Dowling.
Live racing continues Tuesday evening at 6 P.M., at Red Shores Charlottetown. For race replays and upcoming programs, visit the player portal at Redshores.ca.
