CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Adam Merner showed his skill Saturday by fending off Gilles Barrieau in the Paul MacDonald Memorial Driver’s Challenge at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Eight drivers participated in eight races as part of the competition, which occurred on Horse Person’s Day sponsored by the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association.
Merner finished the day with 62 points for his first MacDonald Memorial win with Barrieau finishing two points back in second and Corey MacPherson finishing third with 56 points.
Barrieau started off the action by winning the first leg in a 2:01 romp with Dilans Mustang with Merner finishing second. Merner also finished second in the second leg as David Dowling and Good Lucky Kathy clicked in 2:01.2. Southfield Sassy would give Merner his first taste of the winner’s circle by edging out Mach An Angel (Dave Dowling) by a neck in 2:01.4.
Merner snagged a fifth-place finish in leg four but still kept ahead of second-place Barrieau as the New Brunswick driver finished sixth. Barrieau attempted to close the gap by winning with Casimir Obama in 1:59.1 in the next leg but Merner kept close with a second-place finish behind Casimir Nunzio.
Outrageous Spirit supplied Barrieau with his third win in the challenge in 2:01.2 while Merner and Cougar Gal faded to fifth. Mach Of Ballykeel then supplied a surge up the passing lane in leg seven for driver Merner while Barrieau finished fourth to give Merner a four-point advantage going into the final leg.
Merner’s lead was near squandered in the final dash of the competition as Hemingway made a break past the half-mile marker and provided interference to other horses. Hemingway finished fifth and was placed eighth but Barrieau was unable to capitalize with Loves A Challenge as he finished sixth.
Dowling finished fourth with 53 points, while Ambyr Campbell, Ron Matheson and Mike McGuigan tied for fifth with 48 points and Kenny Arsenault rounded out the field with 45 points.
Rollwithitharry and Barrieau captured the $2,500 preferred 2 pace in 1:58.4 for trainer Jackie Matheson and owner Woodmere Farms of Marshfield. The $2,350 fillies and mares open pace saw an upset with Killean Finale and Ken Murphy winning in 1:58.4 for trainer Clifford Murphy and owners Dr. Mary McNiven and Pacemaker Stable of Nine Mile Creek.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
CDP Results
Harness racing results from Saturday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Race 1 – Lilbootsinparadise (C. MacPherson) 3.40 2.30; I Can Do It (S. Ford) 2.10; Dear You (G. Hennessey).
Times: 30.3, 102.1, 134.1, 205. Winning horse owned by Glenn and Brooks Claybourne, Charlottetown. Exactor 5-4 $4.80.
Race 2 – Dilans Mustang (G. Barrieau) 2.60 2.10 2.10; All Out (A. Merner) 3.80 2.40; C J Bluefin (R. Matheson) 5.80.
Times: 29, 59.4, 131, 201. Also ran: Sports Royalty, Manic Hispanic, Windemere Nick, Celebrate Your Bet, Medoland Bobcat. Winning horse owned by Marc Gallant, Summerside. Exactor 4-8 $4.50 Triactor 4-8-2 $29; Superfecta 4-8-2-5 $71.45; DD 5-4 $6.10.
Race 3 – Phil DOrleans (D. Spence) 3.70 2.80 2.10; L Weather B (G. Barrieau) 5.80 2.90; Inspector Murdoch (A. Merner) 2.10.
Times: 29.3, 100.2, 131.2, 201.4. Also ran: Oceanview Magnum, Easy Flyer, Smart Official, Beach Cloud. Winning horse owned by Lyndon Hardy, Kent and Andrew Williams, P.E.I. Exactor 8-6 $13.60; Triactor 8-6-4 $25.40; Superfecta 8-6-4-3 $71.
Race 4 – Good Luck Kathy (D. Dowling) 4.00 2.30 2.10; Miss Sangria (A. Merner) 2.50 2.10; Bettim Vicky (K. Arsenault) 2.30.
Times: 29, 100, 130.4, 201.2. Also ran: Diduseethat, Avid Yankee, Charlottes Western, What A Babe. Winning horse owned by Janet Compton, Stratford. Exactor 4-5 $7; Triactor 4-5-1 $10.10; Superfecta 4-5-1-6 $16.70.
Race 5 – Southfield Sassy (A. Merner) 3.60 2.20 2.10; Mach An Angel (D. Dowling) 2.80 2.10; Howmac Blaze (G. Barrieau) 4.40.
Times: 29.3, 101.3, 131, 201.4. Also ran: Love In Paradise, Caught Me Speeding, Delcie Hanover, Vintage Winner, Sports Highlights. Winning horse owned by Southfield Farms Inc., P.E.I.; and Claire Colquhoun, B.C. Exactor 2-1 $7.30; Triactor 2-1-8 $39.80; Superfecta 2-1-8-3 $223.60.
Race 6 – Professor Gordon (J. Hughes) 11.60 2.60 2.10; Suicide Shift (H. Shepherd) 3.80 2.90; Frill Seeker (B. Blanchard) 2.30.
Times: 29.1, 59.4, 131.2, 203.4. Also ran: Sailor Blue, Dusty Lane Jacob. Winning horse owned by Deanna Clow, New Haven. Exactor 5-6 $69.50; Triactor 5-6-3 $123.20.
Race 7 – Bad Silver (M. McGuigan) 30.60 18.40 6.90; Anzula (C. MacPherson) 2.70 2.10; Kant Katch Kaiden (R. Matheson) 5.20.
Times: 29.1, 101.1, 132, 202.2. Also ran: Bignprecious, Fleurje, Selfie, Hp Rubis Joyce, Can Art. Winning horse owned by Ellen Carragher, Stratford. Exactor 1-2 $37.80; Triactor 1-2-4 $258.20; Superfecta 1-2-4-5 $113.49.
Race 8 – Casimir Obama (G. Barrieau) 5.10 4.10 4.20; Casimir Nunzio (A. Merner) 2.60 3.50; Toad River (K. Arsenault) 5.70.
Times: 28.4, 59, 129.2, 159.1. Also ran: Starcastic, Painted Pony, Shiftyn Georgie, Miramonttogo, Jetster. Winning horse owned by Darin MacKenzie, Charlottetown. Exactor 3-1 $21.70; Triactor 3-1-4 $173.70; Superfecta 3-1-4-6 $51.91.
Race 9 – Killean Finale (K. Murphy) 19.00 5.30 2.40; Prettyndangerous (D. Dowling) 4.10 3.20; Collective Wisdom (G. Barrieau) 2.40.
Times: 28, 58.2, 128.3, 158.4. Also ran: Julep Hanover, Dustlanemissmolly, Ramblinglily. Winning horse owned by Dr. Mary McNiven and Pacemaker Stable, Nine Mile Creek. Exactor 3-1 $192.60; Triactor 3-1-5 $267; Superfecta 3-1-5-4 $63.63.
Race 10 – Outrageous Spirit (G. Barrieau) 3.00 2.70 2.10; Swingirl (C. MacPherson) 5.40 3.90; Badlands Giovanna (A. Campbell) 6.60.
Times: 28.3, 59.4, 130.3, 201.2. Also ran: Modern Best, Cougar Gal, C L La Rousse, Sir Native, Sendmeasign. Winning horse owned by Paul Holmes and Kevin Peters, P.E.I. Exactor 5-7 $11.40; Triactor 5-7-3 $227.10; Superfecta 5-7-3-8 $266.90.
Race 11 – Eagle Jolt (W. Cheverie) 11.70 6.90 3.00; Diggin In (G. Barrieau) 4.90 3.70; Tempo Seelster (K. Murphy) 8.80.
Times: 28.3, 58.3, 128, 158.2. Also ran: Ultimatelyhandsome, Red Magician, The Big Bite, Hp Bushido Dragjet, Silverhill Buddy. Winning horse owned by Wilbur and Marie MacDonald, Stratford. Exactor 5-6 $46.50; Triactor 5-6-4 $284.10; Superfecta 5-6-4-7 $82.02.
Race 12 – Mach Of Ballykeel (A. Merner) 11.60 3.50 3.20; Fly With Max (C. MacPherson) 3.70 2.60; Rising Fella (M. McGuigan) 2.10.
Times: 29.3, 100.1, 130.1, 201. Also ran: Jetta Flys, All Turain, Woodmere Soul, Howmacs Dragonator. Winning horse owned by Kyle Wilkie and Mallory Lewis, Charlottetown. Exactor 6-1 $46.20; Triactor 6-1-5 $326.90.
Race 13 – Salmonier Storm (A. Campbell) 19.00 7.20 4.60; Positive Art (C. MacPherson) 8.10 8.20; Rash B Havior (M. McGuigan) 3.40.
Times: 29, 59.1, 130.1, 200.3. Also ran: Desired Treasure, K D Overdrive, Loves A Challenge, Lincoln Blues, Hemingway. Winning horse owned by Brian MacPhee, Clyde River. Exactor 5-4 $23.80; Triactor 5-4-2 $113.90; Superfecta 5-4-2-3 $173.83.
Race 14 – Rollwithitharry (G. Barrieau) 3.30 3.70 2.30; Winter Blast (J. Hughes) 2.10 2.20; Machinthesand (K. Murphy) 3.30.
Times: 28.3, 59.4, 130.2, 158.4. Also ran: Nogreatmischief, I C True Grit, Rockin Indy. Winning horse owned by Woodmere Farms, Marshfield. Exactor 3-4 $2.90; Triactor 3-4-2 $18.30; Superfecta 3-4-2-1 $19.70; DD 5-3 $12.30.
Wager – $30,916.
