By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
SUMMERSIDE, PE – Two freshman fillies stamped themselves as early stars of the Atlantic stakes scene on Thursday night at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway, each turning in dominant performances in P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold divisions.
Saulsbrook Rolo ($2.20) delivered another sparkling performance in her $18,750 Gold split, wiring the field in 1:56.3 with trainer-driver Marc Campbell at the lines for owner Carl Stafford of Conception Bay South, N.L. The Roll With Joe–Saulsbrook Alana filly controlled every step of the mile, repelling all challengers and sprinting home in :29.1.
We Danced Anyway (David Dowling) was a solid second while Maid To Play (Ryan Desroche) completed the triactor ticket.
The earlier Gold division went to Windemere Skye ($2.40), who also fronted the field to a strong 1:57.2 victory for Campbell, trainer Earl Watts, and the Windemere Farms /Matt Burke partnership. The daughter of Somewhere Fancy–Howmac Missy was never threatened and remains perfect through her early stakes campaign.
Saulsbrook Desi (Brodie MacPhee) finished second with Going For Blood (Kenny Arsenault) third.
The 14-dash program also featured five Grassroots divisions of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies, each carrying a purse of $9,375.
The winners included Fallon ($5.00), an eye-catching front-end winner in 1:58 for driver-trainer Adam Merner and the Not Two Stable of Cornwall in race 12, as well as Mysterious Ways ($2.70), who made every call a winning one in 2:00.4 with Jason Hughes driving for trainer Stephen Quinn and owners John and Anna-Grace Quinn in race 1.
Exhilarating ($6.80) held on gamely in 1:59.4 in another Grassroots in race 5 for co-owner, trainer and driver Darryl MacLean and co-owners Gordon MacLean and Stephen Downey, with All Bets On Leigh ($14.90) pulling the mild upset in 1:59.3 with Myles Heffernan Sr. in the bike for Karine Aucoin of Quebec from the Trevor Hicken stable in race 3, while Blood Magic ($15.70) won race 10 in 2:01 for trainer-driver Mike Downey and owner Dr. Mitchell Downey of Saint John, N.B.
Marc Campbell had a driving triple on the program to move into third place in the seasonal driver’s standings at 20 wins, behind Corey MacPherson and David Dowling tied in first with 22 victories.
Live racing continues Friday evening at Red Shores Summerside with an 11-dash card starting at 6 P.M., featuring the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies.
For race replays, programs, and live streaming, visit Redshores.ca.
