By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Miki Shan N turned the Preferred 1 pace into a gate-to-wire victory during Wilbur and Pauline MacDonald Memorial Day Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Corey MacPherson sent the 6-year-old son of Always B Miki to the lead and never looked back through fractions of 27.3, 56.0 and 1:24.2 before sprinting home in 26.3 to win by three lengths in 1:51 flat.
Miki Shan N paid $2.40 to win as the overwhelming favourite in the $5,900 Preferred 1 pace. The New Zealand-bred pacer is co-owned by Kap Singh Racing Stable of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont., Earl Hill Jr., of Ohsweken, Ont., and Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. Chris MacKay trains the Governor’s Plate Champion who prepares for the Gold Cup and Saucer trials next Saturday.
Twin B Tuffenuff sat the pocket throughout for driver Gilles Barrieau and held second, with Roll Em (Driven by Marc Campbell) third and Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) close in fourth.
Mappos Lion ($2.30) proved why he was the class of the field in the Wilbur and Pauline MacDonald Memorial with a dominant 1:53.3 victory in the $6,300 event. The winner is trained by Bo Ford for owners Hailee Currie of Rocky Point, P.E.I., and Carol Campbell of Baddeck, N.S., who also bred the speedy pacer. Gilles Barrieau was in the race bike.
The other Wilbur and Pauline MacDonald Memorial pace was won by Bentley ($2.20) and driver Marc Campbell in 1:55.3 for trainer John Clarey and owner Mike Clarey.
The PIPSC Charlottetown SH Subgroup Health Professionals Pace saw Power Of Four ($6.70) win in line to David Dowling in 1:58 for owner-trainer Irwin Neill.
Barrieau and MacPherson both had driving triples while Mike McGuigan doubled as a trainer-driver.
Live racing continues Sunday afternoon at 1 P.M., at Red Shores Summerside. For more go to Redshores.ca.
