Southwind Arturo breaks Atlantic record in Lady Slipper

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Southwind Arturo (Muscle Hill) became the fastest three-year-old trotter in Atlantic Canadian harness racing history on a night where track records fell like flies during Lady Slipper stake action at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Under the command of trainer Marc Campbell, Southwind Arturo left sharply in his race 10 $7,500 Lady Slipper three-year-old trotting colt event as sophomore standout Up Helly Aa (Driven by Ken MacDonald) cut out the quick splits of 28.4, 57.3 and 1:27.4.

Southwind Arturo sat second for those first fractions then pocket pulled at the three-quarter pole to take command and win by over three-lengths in a new three-year-old track and Atlantic trotting standard of 1:57.1.

Up Helly Aa held gamely to finish second with a race timing of 1:57.4 as the first Atlantic bred three-year-old trotter to break the 1:58 barrier over an Atlantic Track while Headline Howie (Mike McGuigan) was third.

SOUTHWIND ARTURO REPLAY

Mabou Ridge held the former track record for three-year-olds in 1:58.1. Robin Burke of Brackley owns Southwind Arturo in partnership with Natasha Campbell of Orwell.

Defriended (Amigo Hall) held the record as the fastest three-year-old trotter ever on the Eastern Seaboard for two races with her open-length romp in 1:57.2 in race 8 in a $7,500 Lady Slipper three-year-old filly trot class. Myles Heffernan Sr., was in the driver’s seat for the front-end run-away performance as the filly eclipsed her own former 1:58.4 track record for trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., and owner Jackie Heffernan of Summerville.

Getting Allfiredup (Armbro Barrister, Campbell) won a $7,500 three-year-old trotting colt division in 2:01.2 for owner-trainer Blayne White of South Pinette. The other $7,500 three-year-old filly trot division was won by Majian Salsa (Jim Ripley) in 2:03.1 for owner Marylea Ripley of Amherst, N.S.

Irish Ray (Muscle Through It) continued his perfect two-year-old campaign winning the lone $12,700 Lady Slipper two-year-old trotting colt division in 2:01.3 for trainer-driver Campbell and owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston. The son of Muscle Through It has yet to be defeated in six career outings.

A $12,700 non-wagering Lady Slipper division for two-year-old trot fillies was held before the program with Camco Erin (My Mvp) the best in a new 2:02 rookie filly track record. Mike McGuigan trains and drives the My Mvp filly for owner Blue Diamond Racing of Emyvale. The victory erased Incredible Hally’s 2:02.1 track record for two-year-old filly trotters set in 2019.

Driver David Dowling had a triple on the evening while trainer Melissa Rennie and driver Adam Merner teamed up for a pair of victories.

Live racing continues Saturday evening at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown. For race replays and more, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores