Matticulous GB mows over field at Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Harness racing driver Ken Murphy was serious from the start aboard Matticulous GB (Hasty Hall) and went all the way in the Opening Night top class Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The Great Britain born pacer left hard from the outside post 6 in the $3,600 Preferred pace and hustled to the lead with fractions of 28.4, 57.3 and 1:26.2 before fending off a late charging Middleton Terror (Driven by David Dowling) in 1:54.3. Third went to Burn Out Hanover (Brady Sweet). Debbie Element of Village Green owns the winning pacer in partnership with Matt and David Burke of Stratford while Colin Johnson handles the training duties.

Trainer Johnson had a trio of winners on opening night as Miami Seelster (Marc Campbell) won in 1:59.1 in race 2 and Premier Joy A (Campbell) won race 4 in 1:56.1.

Rollwithhottytoddy opened up the action for the 2023 Summer Meet in race 1 with a gate-to-wire victory in 1:56.4 for driver Jason Hughes and owner-trainer Trevor Hicken of Montague.

The Jenn Doyle Stable was hot on opening day with a training hat trick for the Earnscliffe operation. Steelmeatreasure (Adam Merner) won race 8 in 2:00.3, Elm Grove Mistress (Hughes) was the best in race 9 in 1:59 and Ladylike (Campbell) romped in 1:56.1 in race 13.

The upset of the night came in the race 15 finale with The Fox (Kenny Arsenault) coming out of the clouds in the stretch drive to win at 17-1 odds in 1:58.3 for trainer Brendan Curran.

The wager was $119,616.

Live racing continues Thursday May 11 at Red Shores Charlottetown with a 6 P.M. AST opening post time. For race replays and more go to Redshores.ca.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores