By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Miki Shan N and driver Corey MacPherson have been immortalized in history after breaking the 1:50 barrier in the Premier’s Cup Sunday afternoon during the Atlantic Breeder’s Crown Weekend Of Champions at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The $50,000 Premier’s Cup in Race 16 produced the fastest mile in Charlottetown Driving Park history as Miki Shan N (Driven by Corey MacPherson) destroyed the stopwatch with a 1:49.4 mile for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Kap Singh Racing Stable, Stephen Klunowski, Earl Hill Jr. and Donald MacRae.
The Gold Cup and Saucer champion was untouchable once again, cruising through fractions of 27.4, 55.1, and 1:22.4 before powering home in 27 seconds flat to eclipse the all-age track record of 1:50.1 he co-held with Bee Two Bee, Sintra and Ys Lotus.
Crossing the wire, driver MacPherson had his head turned staring at the toteboard waiting for the final time tripped by Miki Shan N ($2.10).
“I saw three-quarters in 1:22.4 and thought maybe we tied the track record again,” MacPherson said. “Then I heard Vance Cameron say ‘there it is folks’ and I started to tear up a little. It is simply amazing. I got to be in the right place at the right time and the rest in the history books now. It may have been even cooler than winning the Gold Cup & Saucer to be the fastest ever in the rich history of the CDP.”
Bee Two Bee (Driven by Jason Hughes) finished second, while Bettor Than Spring (Myles Heffernan Sr.) completed the top three.
The day also featured the Atlantic Breeder’s Crown finals, presented by MacRae Backhoe and Trucking, to end the 2025 Atlantic Sires Stakes season.
The $40,000 two-year-old pacing filly Atlantic Breeder’s Crown Final produced one of the afternoon’s loudest ovations as Windemere Skye ($2.10) and driver Marc Campbell continued her perfect with an unblemished record of 11 wins from 11 starts, while setting a new track record of 1:53.3 and tying the all-time Canadian Record for rookie fillies on a half-mile track held by Luck Of Michelle and St Lads Popcorn over Flamboro Downs. Earl Watts trains the daughter of Somewhere Fancy for owners Windemere Farms and Matt Burke as the filly went over $108,000 in seasonal earnings.
“She is a freak, plain and simple,” driver Marc Campbell said afterwards. “I mean yes we are in the Maritimes but I don’t think people realize the travel we do in the season of racing here. To be able to keep sharp and still set track records in back-to-back weeks it is incredible. She should be nominated for an O’Brien Award, she’s that good.”
Beach Jewels (Barrieau) and Bakers Dozen (Corey MacPherson) completed the triactor.
The $40,000 Atlantic Breeders Crown Final for two-year-old pacing colts in Race 6 turned into a photo finish with Sporty Anthony ($4.10) and driver Ken Murphy getting the nod by a nose in 1:55.4 for trainer Jason Biggar, who co-owns with Jason Williams to boost his bankroll to $54,500 on the season.
The son of Somewhere Fancy sat in the two-hole and went up the passing lane to deny Woodmere Kobe (Kenny Arsenault) and Zero Two Sixty (Gilles Barrieau).
There was no stopping the Jason Hughes driven Badgirl Bridgette ($2.10) in the $40,000 three-year-old pacing filly final for owner-trainer William Lanigan. The Stonebridge Terror filly went gate-to-wire in 1:54.1, holding off Elm Grove Talia (David Dowling) and Woodmere Betcha (MacPherson).
Malevolent ($2.10) and trainer-driver Paul Langille continued his dominance of the three-year-old pacing colt division, wiring the field in 1:54 to take the $40,000 Atlantic Breeders Crown Final for the ownership team of Debbie Francis and Rosanne Langille.
Phil My Beer (Marc Campbell) was half-a-length back in second, while Rosetown Eclipse (MacPherson) settled for third.
The afternoon began with Little Louis ($3.00) and driver MacPherson extending his streak in the $22,500 Atlantic Breeders Crown two-year-old trot final. The EL Rocket gelding scored his ninth consecutive victory, coasting to a 1:59.2 win for trainer Kuri White and East Coast Captains of Cornwall.
Emberlees Rocket (Marc Campbell) was second, with Roseys El Girl (Ken Murphy) third.
The three-year-old trotting final for $22,500 was a romp for West River Jet ($2.20) and driver Ken MacDonald, powering home in 1:57.1 for trainer Clare MacDonald and owner Haley MacDonald. The EL Rocket gelding came first-over early to take the lead and control the duration of the mile to best Dusty Lane Gus (Adam Merner) and Majian Mystery (James Ripley).
The $15,000 Island Oceans Trot Challenge Final, presented by Burkie By The Bay Stables, saw a spectacular front-end effort from Fight Song ($6.50) and driver Hughes, who blazed through fractions of 28.4, 57 and 1:26 and never looked back in 1:54.3 for trainer Ashley Gamester and owner Donald MacRae.
The performance established a new all-age trotting track record at Red Shores Charlottetown, demolishing the previous standard of 1:55.2 held by Buckhead Ridge. Rocket Blast (Corey MacPherson) and Glider Man (David Dowling) were second and third.
The $20,000 Steven & Joe MacRae Memorial Open Mares Final went to Sugar Bowl ($8.00) and driver Brady Sweet, who won in 1:53.3 for trainer Jeff Holmes and owner Brian MacPhee of Mount Stewart.
Get Answers (Marc Campbell) was a close runner-up, with Avyanna (Gilles Barrieau) third.
Live racing continues Tuesday evening at 6 P.M., at Red Shores Summerside.
Full race replays and more are available at Redshores.ca.
