By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
SUMMERSIDE, PE – The stars of the Joe O’Brien Memorial and Lady Slipper stakes programs delivered Sunday afternoon at Red Shores Summerside Raceway, with Windemere Skye protecting her perfect record and Woodmere Kobe springing one of the day’s biggest surprises in the Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold.
The headlining $32,800 Lady Slipper Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies in race 14 saw Windemere Skye ($4.10) remain perfect in five lifetime starts. Marc Campbell placed the Earl Watts trainee on the front then released rival Fitness First (Driven by Corey MacPherson) to the lead past the quarter before rallying up to win in the stretch by three lengths in 1:56.1. Serenity Now (Jason Hughes) closed to complete the triactor. Windmere Farms shares ownership of the winning daughter of Somewhere Fancy with Matt Burke.
Earlier in the card, the lone $28,800 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold division for two-year-old pacing colts in race 11 produced an upset when Woodmere Kobe ($20.80) and trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault collared favoured Sporty Anthony (Ken Murphy) at the wire in 1:58.0 for owners Peter Smith and Gerald Morrissey. Zero Two Sixty (Danny Gillis) was third.
The $16,400 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies were claimed by Elm Grove Uncannie ($3.70) in 2:00 for trainer Joe Baxter and driver Ken Murphy, Fallon ($3.70) in 1:58.4 for trainer-driver Adam Merner and a double for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Landon Campbell with Hatchling ($3.60) in 1:58.3 and Bayonetta ($2.90) in 1:58.2.
On the colt side, the $14,400 Grassroots divisions of the Joe O’Brien Memorial for two-year-old pacers went to Disko Bay ($2.20) stopping the clock in 2:00.2 for trainer-driver Paul Langille, Streakantonio ($5.60) wiring the field in 2:00 for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Ron Matheson, Rollwiththewarden ($2.80) dominating in 1:59 with trainer-driver Corey MacPherson and St Patricks Morn ($21.10) scoring the upset in 2:01.1 with Ken Murphy steering for trainer Alan MacDonald.
The day also featured the Lady Slipper Stakes for two and three-year-old trotters.
Bless Me Father ($2.10) stamped himself as the fastest trotter in the history of Prince County with a new overall track trotting record of 1:57.1 for driver Marc Campbell and owner-trainer Donna Van Meer in his $20,240 Lady Slipper three-year-old colt trot. The time lowered the three-year-old gelding track record of 1:57.4 set by Irish Ray in 2023 and the overall track trotting standard formerly held by Fight Song after his 1:57.3 trip in July.
Little Louis ($2.10) coasted to a 2:04.0 win in race 2 for trainer Kuri White and driver Corey MacPherson in a $14,600 two-year-old trotting colt dash. West River Karuna ($2.50) won the other rookie colt trot in 2:02.3 for driver Ken MacDonald and trainer Clare MacDonald.
Hallysgurl ($2.10) turned in a powerful 2:00.3 victory in her $14,600 Lady Slipper two-year-old trotting filly race with Barrieau driving for conditioner Darryl MacLean.
Oceanview Nikki ($4.70) captured the $20,240 three-year-old filly trot in 2:00.0 for trainer-driver Mike McGuigan.
Live racing continues Tuesday at 6 P.M., at Red Shores Summerside.
For more go to Redshores.ca.
