The PEI Colt Stakes continued with pacers in the spotlight during Saturday’s double-header at Charlottetown Driving Park.
Two-year-olds were featured during the afternoon card and Astronomical Union kicked off the stakes action with a 1:57.2 eight length romp in the first of five $5,600 divisions for the colts and geldings. Marc Campbell drove the chestnut son of Astronomical to his second win and fastest in eight starts for trainer Albert Davies and owner Reginald MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I. The gelding’s first win also came at Charlottetown in an Atlantic Sires Stakes division on August 17.
Driven by Mike Stevenson, Mr Thompson survived a first over journey and stuck a neck out in front at the wire to win the next colt division in a new mark of 1:59 over pacesetter Island Lexus. The Articulator gelding is now two-for-six in his career for conditioner Wayne Bell and Island owners Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast.
Extending his unbeaten record to four, the Sean Dooley-trained Big League was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:59 in rein to Kenny Aresenault. The son of Four Starzzz Shark, a Callbeck Stakes and Williamson Memorial Stake winner, missed his mark by one-fifth of a second. He is owned by the Dooley Boys Racing Stable of Halifax, N.S., and Cheryl Geldart Greer of Norton, N.B.
Pacesetter Obamanator and driver Gilles Barrieau held off slight favourite Acton Onelasttime to win the final colt division by a head in a lifetime-best 2:00.2. Dr. Hugh J. Baird of Hampton, N.B. trains, owns and bred the Carlspur colt, who now has four wins (including two Atlantic Sires Stakes splits) in 10 starts on his record. For Barrieau, the win was his 3,500th of his career.
Lyndale Royal, driven by Brodie MacPhee, concluded the stakes action for the freshman colts with a career-best 1:58 winning performance. The Force Of Life gelding, a four-time Atlantic Sires Stakes winner, advanced to the lead past the half and cruised to his fifth win in eight starts for trainer Terrence Affleck and owner David MacDonald of Belfast, P.E.I.
Tobins Knockout overcame early interference caused by breaker Bettim Theresa and rallied three-wide at the three-quarters mark to capture the first of four $6,800 divisions for the fillies. Mark Bradley guided the 5-1 shot to the half-length victory in 2:02.2. The Coastocoast Yankee filly earned her second (consecutive) win in six starts for trainer Frank Hansen and owners Malcolm Williams of Ellerslie, P.E.I. and Allan Williams of Oakville, Ont.
A As Glory romped to a six and a half length score in the next filly split, winning in a career-best 1:59 with trainer Gillies Barrieau in the bike. Andrew Ward of Saint John, N.B. owns and bred the brown Carlspur miss, who is now a three-time winner in five starts.
Streaking filly J J Maywest advanced to the lead from Post 9 and front-stepped her way to a victory in 2:00.2. The daughter of Western Paradise recorded her sixth win in eight starts for trainer Blaine McKenna, who also co-owns with Gary Aitken of Summerside, P.E.I. She now boasts victories in the Callbeck Stakes, Atlantic Sires Stakes, and a Gold division of the Lady Slipper Stakes.
Trainer-driver Marc Campbell and Greenoaks Farm’s Malabrigo then cruised to a four and a half length win in the final filly frosh division, stopping the clock in 1:59.4, a new lifetime best. The Western Paradise miss is now five-for-six in her career with wins also in the Callbeck Stakes and Atlantic Sires Stakes.
Three-year-old pacing colts took center stage on the evening card and Tobins Fortune was the first of four colt winners thanks to his 1:58 wire-to-wire effort in his $6,500 event. Todd Trites drove the Henry Smallwood trainee to his second win of the season in 14 starts. The Western Paradise gelding is owned by Debbie, Peter and Gregory Francis of Windsor, N.S.