By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Sugar Bowl was all business heading to the lead and wiring the Kent Oakes Memorial Thursday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Sugar Bowl ($3.00) left well from post 4 in the race 11 Kent Oakes Memorial for a $4,200 purse and driver Gilles Barrieau cruised her through fractions of 27.2, 56.1, 1:26.2 before closing it out in 1:54.1 with a two-length decision over Elm Grove Mistress (Driven by David Dowling) and Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson). Jeff Holmes trains the winning daughter of Sweet Lou for owners Tommy Collings and Brian MacPhee of Mount Stewart.
The Oakes Memorial was honouring 20 years since the opening of the new racing surface at the CDP on June 4, 2005, which he was a large component of in his capacity with the P.E.I. Provincial Government.
Fittingly, Oakes’ dear friend Darren Crowe doubled up on the evening as a trainer-driver with his Nova Scotia stable. Crowe and Redland Peaches ($24.30) opened up the night in a new personal best of 1:55.2 then Freaky Fanny ($2.10) romped in race 5 in a 1:57 score with Crowe in the race bike.
Fight Song ($3.50) won the race 10 $3,400 trot event in 1:58.2 for driver Jason Hughes, trainer Ashley Gamester and owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge.
Earlier on the card, there was a dead heat in a maiden pace in race 2 as Pownalbay Colleen ($6.40) in line to Brodie MacPhee and All Over Town ($2.50) and driver Adam Merner couldn’t be separated at the wire in 1:59.3.
The biggest upset of the evening came in race 9 as Miss Maddie P ($78.00) roared home from fourth to nail down a shocker in 1:57.2 for trainer Todd Walsh and driver Hughes keying an exactor worth $225.00.
Racing continues Saturday evening at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown. For replays, programs, and the live broadcast visit Redshores.ca.
