Czar Seelster delivers in Invitational Pace

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Off a pocket ride behind hot fractions there was no stopping Czar Seelster in Saturday night's Invitational Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Kenny Arsenault was at the lines for the winning drive in the $3,500 Invitational pace against top notch harness racing company. Rose Run Quest won the early tussle to control the lead and was sent to fractions of 27.4, 55.4 and 1:25.3 by driver Gary Chappell.

Czar Seelster sat in the two-hole and tipped out in the late stages of the mile to power past Rose Run Quest for a two-length win in 1:54.2. Third went to Machinthesand (Driven by Ken Murphy). Todd Weatherbee trains Czar Seelster for owner Tammy Johnston of Stratford.

Brodys Leona captured the $2,350 Fillies and Mares Open pace as part of a four-win evening for driver Corey MacPherson. Kerry Taylor trains the Modern Art mare who stopped the clock in 1:56.4. MacPherson's other wins came with JKs Boy in 2:04.1 for Les Waite of Charlottetown, Zambuca Gass in 1:59.4 for trainer Gillian Reeves of Summerside and Stars Above in 1:56.1 as part of a training double for Weatherbee.

Trainer Jackie Matheson had a solid night at the track including a harness racing oddity as two of his trainees dead-heated for the win in the same race. In race 8 of the program,

Matheson trainees Howmacs Dragonator (Ron Matheson) and Artners In Crime (Drew Neill) hit the wire together in 2:00.3 to give the trainer two winners in the same race. Matheson's other victories came with IC True Grit (Mike McGuigan) in 1:56.2 and Lincoln Seelster (Ron Matheson) in 2:00.4.

Two finals for the P.E.I. Matinee Series were held as non-betting races on the program with those races announced by up and comer Christopher MacRae. The class C final was won by Raging Leru and Jaycob Sweet in a mile time of 2:03.3 over Johns Fast Road (Ed Strongman) and Intrepidus (Heather Gamester). Dreamspinner prevailed in the class D final with Kyle Desroche in the bike in 2:14.1 over Be Cam Sandy (Clair Sweet) and Maple Grove Seph (Cy Poirier).

Pictonian Storm shocks ar Summerside

SUMMERSIDE, PE – The Sunday afternoon featured pace had a surprising ending at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway with Pictonian Storm hitting the wire first as the longest shot on the board.

Austin Sorrie drove the horse to a 1:57.2 victory at 28-1 odds for owner Tammy Collings of Hazel Brook, P.E.I., for win number 27 of the pacer's career. Weekend Atnannies did all the roadwork to finish second for driver Mike McGuigan while Revenant (Driven by Adam Merner) was third.

Nogreatmischief hit the winner's circle in the $1,900 back-up class on top at every call for trainer-driver Walter Cheverie of Nine Mile Creek, who co-owns the pacer with Brian Thompson of Charlottetown, P.E.I. Slide Guitar (David Dowling) finished second in the 1:56.3 mile while White Fish Flash (Norris Rogers) was third.

Driver Dowling continued his lead of the Summerside driving standings with three winners on the card, including a pair for trainer Earl Watts of Hampshire. Howmac Sabrina was a winner in 2:00.4 for Watts and Dowling while Cal Hanover recorded a 1:59.4 victory. Dowling also won with the streaking pacer, Young Man Matt, in a 1:56.3 score for Terry Gallant of Summerside.

The Matinee Challenge Racing Series came to a close for the 2018 season of Sunday afternoon with a pair of non-betting finals. The Class B final was won by Ultimate Faith and Jenae Wallace with a 2:02.3 mile over Liborio (Ryder Rennison) and The Gormanizor (Clair Sweet). Badlands Giovanna was a speedy winner in her Class A final with a mile time of 1:59.1 for driver Brady Sweet. Second in that final was Rising Fella (Jaycob Sweet) with Sharon The Moment and driver MacKenzie Arsenault was third.

For more go to www.Redshores.ca.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores