Moonwriter highlights celebratory card

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Moonwriter fired to the lead and never looked back in the featured pace on a special Canada Day program Thursday as Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway celebrated 135 years of harness racing.

In line to Marc Campbell in the $2,900 featured event, Moonwriter hustled to the lead from post 4 while race favourite Soccer Hanover (driven by Corey MacPherson) tried a move to the front heading to the initial 28.2 quarter. Soccer Hanover’s early bid was repelled as he was forced to settle back in the three-hole while Moonwriter continued to lead and found the half-mile marker in 57 seconds then got a breather in the third split of 1:27. Theycallmedude (Ken Murphy) and Soccer Hanover came calling in the stretch drive but Moonwriter hung on for a 1:56.2 win. Theycallmedude was second with Soccer Hanover third.

Colin Johnson trains the winning pacer for owner Debbie Element of Village Green.

The program also featured a trotting match-race won by Hop Up (Keith Campbell) in 2:01.2 over Windemeredontutworry (Lloyd Hannah) in commemoration of the inaugural match-race held at the oval in 1886.

Shiftyn Georgie went all the way in the Super Hi-5 finale was Jaycob Sweet above the wheels of his trainee. Sweet co-owns the pacer with Brody Ellis, Susan Thomson and Allison Sweet. Time of the mile was 1:58.4.

The Canada Day Pace saw a dominant performance by Flash In The Pang in 1:57.1 with MacPherson in the bike for owner-trainer Hughie Murphy.

Total wager was $52,990.

Live racing continues Saturday at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown and Sunday afternoon at Red Shores Summerside with the kickoff of Governor’s Plate week racing.

For race replays and more go to Redshores.ca.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores