Merner nabs gold on P.E.I. Stakes Saturday

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Driver Adam Merner had the hot hands in Gold division harness racing action of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes on a mega-stakes Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The Charlottetown driver had five wins during the 29-dash doubleheader including four Gold divisions throughout the day.

Lady Hess (Heston Blue Chip) won her $18,300 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies from the Jamie Smith stable on the afternoon program in a 13-length romp of 1:56.3 for owner Groupof7 Stable. Jafetica (Driven by Myles Heffernan Sr.) was second with My Happy Place (Gilles Barrieau) third.

The Gold victories continued for Merner on the night card winning with Downtown Tonight (Shanghai Phil) in a $18,100 sophomore filly dash over Chip Of Evil (Corey MacPherson) and Galway Girl (Marc Campbell) in 1:56.1. It was one of three wins on the day for trainer Tommy Weatherbie, who conditions the daughter of Shanghai Phil for owners Cam and Gordon MacPhee.

Merigo Magic (Tobago Cays) (Merner) landed on top of his $17,720 P.E.I. Colt Stakes three-year-old pacing colt Gold dash as the heavy favourite in a 1:54.3 clocking for trainer Melissa Rennie, who trained two winners, and owners Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron and Ian Walker. Jack Boswall (Marc Campbell) was second best ahead of Check Your Chip (Heffernan Sr.).

Miss Dutton (Rollwithitharry) was another Merner driven Gold winner from the Kuri White barn in 1:56.4 in her $18,100 P.E.I. Colt Stakes three-year-old pacing filly division for owner Shoulda Been Onabeach Stable, over Miss Wicked (MacPherson) and Starship Beauty (David Dowling). It was one of two wins for trainer White on the day.

Marc Campbell had the hottest hands of the day with six winners overall including a win in a $20,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes two-year-old pacing colt Gold division for tripled up trainer Landon Campbell with Phil My Beer (Shanghai Phil) over a stubborn One Wicked Man (Kenny Arsenault) in 1:58.2. Brady Doyle co-owns the colt with Ryan MacLeod, Kent MacDonald and Brent Campbell.

Muchtooyoungforyou (Flameproof Hanover) (Marc Campbell) landed on top of a $18,300 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold division in 2:00.4 for two-year-old pacing fillies ahead of Howmac Maleficent (Ken Murphy) and Woodmere Flojo (Merner). Earl Watts, who doubled up on the day, trains the Flameproof Hanover filly for owners Windemere Farms, River Valley Management and Matt Burke.

Malevolent (Malicious) (Paul Langille) was redemption bound in the other $20,000 rookie colt Gold division with Prince Malicious (Jason Hughes) second and Abiding Art (Arsenault) completing the triactor in 1:56.2. Langille trains the Malicious colt for owners Debbie Francis and Rosanne Langille.

Jackies Boy (Tobago Cays) (Heffernan Sr.) easily handled his foes in his $17,720 sophomore pacing colt Gold division in 1:54.1 for owner-trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., over Allaboutthecash (Barrieau) and Pauls Crown (Marc Campbell).

Tobins Chester (Shanghai Phil)  was a popular winner in a $17,720 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold division for three-year-old pacing colts in 1:54.1 as one of five wins for driver Hughes and one of two victories for trainer Ashley Gamester. Little Leroy (Merner) nabbed second with Reassurance (MacPherson) third. Donald MacRae owns the winning son of Shanghai Phil.

First Filly Chip (Arthur Blue Chip) provided a mild upset in her $18,100 P.E.I. Colt Stakes three-year-old pacing filly Gold contest in a 1:56 clocking over Fern Hill Indigo (Brodie MacPhee) and Eenymeenyminymoe (Hughes). White trains the Arthur Blue Chip lass for the East Coast Captains Stable of Cornwall.

The $3,250 divisions of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series, presented by Standardbred Canada, were won by Shesonebadmomma (Barrieau) in 1:55 for trainer Ron Matheson and Pasta Momma (Marc Campbell) in 1:54 from the Landon Campbell barn.

Bee Two Bee stormed home to win a $8,500 division of the Reliable Motors Richard Campbell Memorial Invitational for aged pacers in a 1:52.4 clocking for driver Hughes, trainer Gamester and owners Donald MacRae and Blair MacLauchlan.

Wind Blown was the boss in the other $8,500 Richard Campbell Invitational split in 1:53 for driver MacPherson, trainer Phil Sizer and owners Doug Polley Jr., and Doug Polley Sr.

Live racing continues Monday evening at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown.

For more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete morning race results, click here.

For complete afternoon race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores