By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Buckhead Ridge stamped himself as the top dog in the Island Oceans Trot Challenge, presented by Burkie By The Bay Stables, during a five win night for driver Marc Campbell on the Thursday program at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The evening’s co-featured $6,500 first leg of the Island Oceans Trot Challenge for aged trotters saw Buckhead Ridge ($2.10) back in the winner’s circle with a commanding 1:56.1 front-end win in race 9. Marc Campbell was at the lines for owner Brady Doyle of Stratford and trainer Landon Campbell. Fight Song (Driven by Jason Hughes) finished a game second while Glider Man (David Dowling) rounded out the triactor ticket.
Earlier on the program, Helpfull Princess ($2.90) was a dominant winner in the first division of the Island Oceans Trot Challenge (race 2) for owner Robin Burke and trainer Luke Burke, stopping the clock in 1:58.3 with Adam Merner aboard. Rocket Blast (Corey MacPherson) was second while Majian Salsa (Jim Ripley) was third.
Race 10 saw a sizzling 1:52.3 effort from Avyanna ($2.10), who crushed her foes with a 27.3 kicker for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Bo Ford and owners Hailee Currie and Carol Campbell. The victory was just shy of the 1:52.2 track record for aged pacing mares set by Pasta Momma in 2024.
Ford also clicked with Marc Campbell in race 13 as Steady Heart ($4.10) went down the road in 1:55.4.
Marc Campbell had the hot hands on the night with five wins on the 16-dash card, four of them for trainer Landon Campbell. Alongside Buckhead Ridge, he teamed up with Saulsbrook Rolo ($2.10) for a 1:56.3 romp in the race 8 McWade Race Night 2025 pace, Galway Girl ($2.10) in race 14 in 1:56.2, and Get Answers ($3.90) in the race 15 fillies and mares feature in a 1:54.4 clocking.
In race 4, trotting filly Hallysgurl ($2.80) scored in her second career start in a new track record for two-year-old trot fillies of 1:59.2 in race 4 for Barrieau and trainer Darryl MacLean. Calvin Larkin and Erika Bradley share ownership of the Muscle Mass filly, who lowered the former 1:59.3 track record held by Oceanview Nikki.
Trainer David O’Brien doubled on the card as two-year-old pacing filly Basho ($12.40) turned the tables on race favourite Maid To Play with a 1:58.2 maiden score in race 3 for driver Merner while Woodmere Lizzie ($16.70) and Corey MacPherson sprung an upset in race 5 in 1:57.
Ms Moyse ($4.90) completed the card with a gate-to-wire 1:57.1 win in race 16, giving Merner a driving triple.
Live racing continues Saturday afternoon at 4 P.M., at Red Shores Charlottetown. For more go to Redshores.ca.
