CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Front-end tactics was all it took for IC True Grit to find the winner’s circle in Thursday’s featured pace at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Gilles Barrieau was in the driver’s seat for the winning score in the $2,100 top event of the Thursday program. IC True Grit went to front as he took over from early pacesetter Rockin Indy (David Dowling) past the opening quarter of 28.1.
Barrieau and his charge tripped the second fraction in 58 then proceeded to three-quarters in 1:28.1 before closing out the mile in a clock-stopping 1:57.4 over a track rated with a one-second variant.
Rockin Indy was a close second while third went to Likely To Win (Adam Merner).
IC True Grit is trained by Jackie Matheson for owners Joey Gallant and Ingham Jenkins of Charlottetown.
Frill Seeker used similar tactics to capture the $1,950 open trot in a front-end score of 2:03.3 for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault and owner Ebbsfleet Stable of Stratford, Ont. Professor Gordon (Jason Hughes) was second while Dusty Lane Jacob (Merner) completed the triactor.
CL La Rousse put together a colossal shocker in Race 5 of the program as she was placed to first and paid $245.20 for a $2-win ticket.
Dowling was in the bike for the 2:02 mile for trainer Reg Ferguson of Charlottetown.
Sports Highlights (Barrieau) hit the wire first but was set back to third for interference on Miss Sangria (Merner) in the stretch drive.
Sailor Blue won her third straight race in trotting action on the program. Barrieau was in the bike for the 14-length romp in 2:03.2 for co-owner and trainer Cindy MacDonald and co-owner Yoss Martonovich of Montague.
Hughes scored a pair of wins from his own stable as Sir Native stopped the clock in 2:02.1 in the finale and Perfect Raider was a 2:00.3 winner in Race 6.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
CDP Results
Results from Thursday’s harness racing card at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Race 1 – Elm Grove Nanci (K. Murphy) 6.50 2.50 2.10; Lyndale Coco (J. Hughes) 3.90 2.10; Howmac Margarita (K. Arsenault) 2.10.
Times: 30.3, 102.1, 133.4, 205.1. Also ran: I Can Do It, Ear You, Lilbootsinparadise. Winning horse owned by Robert Phillips, Belfast. Exactor 2-4 $17.10; Triactor 2-4-3 $25.20; Superfecta 2-4-3-5 $46.20.
Race 2 – Sailor Blue (G. Barrieau) 5.80 3.20 2.10; Guccios Office (K. Murphy) 4.80 3.80; Diamond Mine (A. Merner) 4.60.
Times: 30.3, 100.2, 131.1, 203.2. Also ran: Mile Hill Mac, Dusty Lane Gloria, Holy Molie Maggie. Winning horse owned by Cynthia MacDonald and Yossi Maronovich, Montague. Exactor 3-6 $32.40; Triactor 3-6-4 $178.90; Superfecta 3-6-4-2 $123.90; Daily Double 2-3 $26.50.
Race 3 – Saulsbrook Bailey (M. Campbell) 2.80 2.60 2.10; Bayside Alexis (K. Murphy) 2.90 2.30; Atlantic Drive (M. Bradley) 3.10.
Times: 29.3, 100.1, 129.4, 159.2. Also ran: Fiftyshadesofgraci, Oh To Be You, Sourthern Heart. Winning horse owned by Reginald MacPherson, David and Aaron MacKenzie, P.E.I. Exactor 6-3 $6.40; Triactor 6-3-1 $46.30; Superfecta 6-3-1-4 $25.43.
Race 4 – Dusty Lane Zendaya (A. Merner) 2.90 2.10 2.20; Cougar Gal (G. Barrieau) 6.40 3.10; What A Babe (T. Walsh) 4.50.
Times: 29.3, 100.4, 130.4, 201.4. Also ran: Outrageous Spirit, Bugtown Superstar, Oceanview Beemer, Can Art, R ES Kate. Winning horse owned by estate of Shelley Gass, Alexis Gass, Cornwall. Exactor 3-7 $8.90; Traictor 3-7-4 $38.20; Superfecta 3-7-4-8 $73.60.
Race 5 – C L La Rousse (D. Dowling) 245.20 22.70 5.40; Miss Sangria (A. Merner) 4.50 2.80; Sports Highlights (G. Barrieau) 2.40.
Times: 30.1, 100.4, 131.1, 201.4. Also ran: Caught Me Speeding, Scoot Out Of Here, Hurricane Hill, Avid Yankee. Winning horse owned by Paula MacPhee and, Reginald Ferguson, Charlottetown. Exactor 2-All $102.70; Triactor 2-6-All $625.40.
Race 6 – Perfect Raider (J. Hughes) 5.70 3.80 2.90; Swingirl (A. Merner) 3.80 3.10; Selfie (M. Bradley) 3.60.
Times: 28.3, 58.3, 130.1, 200.3. Also ran: Diduseethat, Sandhill Star, Bad Silver, Bignprecious. Winning horse owned by John Barrington, Sydney, N.S. Exactor 6-7 $16.60; Triactor 6-7-5 $388.90; Superfecta 6-7-5-4 $149.40.
Race 7 – Frill Seeker (K. Arsenault) 13.30 7.70 4.00; Professor Gordon (J. Hughes) 22.20 8.00; Dusty Lane Jacob (A. Merner) 2.50.
Times: 29.1, 59.3, 131.2, 203.3. Also ran: Suicide Shift, Majian Chester, Majian Tango. Winning horse owned by Ebbsfleet Stables, Stratford, Ont. Exactor 6-5 $180.50; Triactor 6-5-4 $208.70; Superfecta 6-5-4-1 $211.73.
Race 8 – Julep Hanover (W. Myers) 7.90 3.60 2.70; Drivingthdragon N (J. Hughes) 2.50 2.50; Malabrigo (D. MacLean) 4.90.
Times: 28.2, 58.3, 129.2, 159.2. Also ran: Killean Finale, Nikes Cowgirl, Good Luck Kathy. Winning horse owned by Wade Myers, Charlottetown. Exactor 5-4 $36.70; Triactor 5-4-2 $189; Superfecta 5-4-2-6 $128.80.
Race 9 – I C True Grit (G. Barrieau) 4.50 2.50 2.10; Rockin Indy (D. Dowling) 3.20 2.40; Likely To Win (A. Merner) 3.00. Times: 28.1, 58.0, 128.1, 157.4.
Also ran: Nogreatmischief, Stars Above, JEB. Winning horse owned by Joey Gallant, Ingham Jenkins, Charlottetown. Exactor 2-4 $16.90; Triactor 2-4-3 $63; Superfecta 2-4-3-1 $33.75.
Race 10 – Sir Native (J. Hughes) 15.40 3.90 2.40; Fleurje (A. Merner) 2.10 2.10; Fleurje (D. Dowling) 3.40.
Times: 27.4, 57.1, 129.3, 202.1. Also ran: Vintage Winner, Howmac Blaze, Female Finesse, Pictonian Sareta. Winning horse owned by Robi Hughes, Eric MacLaughlan, D. Blair MacLauchlan, P.E.I. Exactor 2-3 $22.80; Triactor 2-3-5 $309.10; Superfecta 2-3-5-7 $301.85; Daily Double 2-2 $10.60.
Wager – $26,072.
