Late surge gets Mantario to winner’s circle

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Harness racing driver David Dowling had Mantario (Sportswriter) in upset mode in the Saturday afternoon (Oct. 29) featured pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The $3,300 Preferred pace saw Spicey P (Jason Hughes) go to the lead in 28.3 with Mantario sitting in the two-hole. Race favourite Navalny (Adam Merner) moved up to engage Spicey P heading to the half of 57.2 then three-quarters of 1:26.1 was more of the same.

Mantario contently watched those two battle, then surged in the stretch to win by over a length in 1:54.4 with Spicey P second and Moonwriter (Marc Campbell) third.

Jennifer Doyle co-owns and conditions Mantario for co-owner Danny Birt of Earnscliffe. He paid $11.30 to win.

Dowling provided a repeat of Thursday evening as he again won both featured dashes on Saturday. The Dowling trained and driven Boys Turn won the $2,900 back-up class in a speedy 1:53.4 over Acrobat Hanover (Campbell) and Mr Rielly (Corey MacPherson). Joel and Jeremy Watts share ownership of the Shadow Play pacer with Clair Murphy of Millvale.

Merner did all kinds of smiling during the first portion of the card with the driver winning four dashes from the first five races. Merner scored with Tradition (1:56.3) for trainer Gordie Hennessey, Neptune Seelster (1:58.2) for trainer Michael Gallant and in a Melissa Rennie trained double with Kataparka (1:56.2) and Hemingway (1:57).

Live racing continues Sunday afternoon at 1 P.M. with the final program of the season at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores