By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
SUMMERSIDE, PE –Brookdale Johnny would not be denied on Tuesday night, fending off heavy favourite Tony Too Tall in the stretch drive to win the $4,700 feature at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
Driver Paul Langille moved the five-year-old son of Rockin In Heaven to the front past the opening quarter and controlled the tempo through panels of 29.2, 58.2, and 1:27.4. Despite early pressure from Tony Too Tall (Driven by Myles Heffernan Jr.), who sat in the pocket throughout and launched a serious bid in the stretch, Brookdale Johnny ($5.90) dug in and prevailed by half-a-length in 1:56.2.
Owned and bred by Doug Polley Jr., and Doug Polley Sr., of Amherst, N.S., Brookdale Johnny is trained by Phill Sizer. Tony Too Tall had to settle for second while Sauble Attack (Ken Murphy) closed up to complete the triactor.
Langille was a four-time winner on the program, capturing the race 16 finale with First Glance ($43.70) in a 1:56.3 clocking from the Devon Wallace barn, Race 8 aboard Starship Glyde ($13.50) in 1:55.1 for trainer Earl Watts, and in a race 2 deadheat driving Mandys Last Dance ($3.00) from the Chris MacKay stable in a 2:01 maiden breaking score.
The other half of that race 2 deadheat was Mikita (Corey MacPherson) for trainer Blaine McKenna, paying $2.10 to win. MacPherson also won with his own Jackie Pang ($19.00) in 1:58.3 in race 1 as well as race 14 with the Jason Biggar trained Tobins Future ($8.20) in 1:56.3 for the driving triple.
Jaycob Sweet doubled up as trainer-driver with Timberlea Lady ($7.30) in a 1:58.2 clocking in race 13 and James Reigns ($36.00) in 1:56.3 in race 9.
David Dowling put together a four-win performance in the race bike to now sit in a tie for first in the driving standings with MacPherson at 29 wins each.
Dowling hit the wire first with We Danced Anyway ($2.10) in 1:59.4 for trainer Dwane MacEachern in race 6, Twisted Joke ($5.00) in 1:59.1 for Sifroi Melanson in race 10, Almanac ($2.40) in 1:58.1 in race 11 from the Jennifer Doyle stable and Swordfromthestone ($12.70) in race 12 for conditioner Donald Sweet.
Live racing continues Thursday evening at 6 P.M., at Red Shores Charlottetown.
For more go to Redshores.ca.
