Mantario placed first opening day at Summerside

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Mantario, under the command of Brodie MacPhee, was placed the winner in the afternoon harness racing feature on a special Victoria Day Monday (May 23) afternoon program on opening day of 2022 at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

The $3,300 featured pace saw Heart And Soul aggressive from the start as driver Walter Cheverie guarded the pylons from post 1 and forced the heavily favoured Moonwriter (David Dowling) into the two-hole going to a 27.4 opening quarter.

Heart And Soul was still leading the field to the half-mile station when his right tire came off the rim forcing driver Cheverie to take his horse wide and pull up and not finish the race before returning safely to his stable. The Colin Johnson trained Moonwriter was then handed the lead and would command the rest of the mile in 58.4 and 1:28.4 before closing out in 1:58. Mantario (MacPhee) was three-quarters of length back in second at the finish with Hunger Pangs (Dale Spence) third.

Officials with the Atlantic Province’s Harness Racing Commission then disqualified Moonwriter after determining the favourite made contact with Heart And Soul’s wheel while entering the two-hole at the quarter-pole, leading to his tire becoming damaged. Mantario was placed to first for co-owner and trainer Jennifer Doyle and co-owner Danny Birt of Earnscliffe, with Hunger Pangs placed second as the only two horses to officially finish the race.

The Doyle stable made two trips to the winner’s circle on the opening program with Southwind Bronn (Jason Hughes) winning race 7 in 1:58.4.

Dowling had three wins on the afternoon to grab the early lead for the driving title and find himself at 1,499 lifetime wins on the verge of a career milestone. Dowling won with Sports Zipper (2:00) for trainer Clair Sweet, Watchhimtreasure (2:02.1) for the Earl Watts barn and Bludhaven (1:58.3) from his own stable.

Live racing continues Thursday and and Saturday at Red Shores Charlottetown with 6:30 P.M. post times while Red Shores Summerside continues the 2022 season on Sunday afternoon (May 29) with the first leg of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, For Red Shores