Jun 26, 2012
Malabrigo and JuneBugs Baby Captures Maritime Breeders Finals; Arabica Wins Ladner Pacing Series
Charlottetown, PE – Malabrigo, with Marc Campbell in the bike, stole the headlines during an action packed card Saturday night after the filly won the $33,085 Maritime Breeders Final at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The filly, who remains undefeated in her three-year-old campaign, was sent to the front and carved fractions of 28.3, 57.2 and 1:27.4 to hold off pocket sitter A As Glory (Gilles Barrieau) for second while Gilda (Walter Cheverie) rallied late to grab third in the final named in honor of founding member Ken Starrett. The 1:57.2 victory was a career best for Malabrigo and her fifth win in a row for owner Buntainwood Farms.
Junebugs Baby had the fans of Cape Breton cheering when the colt pulled off the biggest win of his career in the three-year-old colt final for $23,450 named after Atlantic Post Calls founder Doug Harkness.
Greg Sparling mapped out the winning trip yielding to Touch of Lightening (Earl Smith) on route to the opening quarter in 29.1 then stalked the leader through splits of 58.4 and 1:28.2 before pulling the pocket to win in the stretch in 1:56.3. The victory of margin was one and a quarter length over Touch of Lightening and First Art Down was third. Junebugs Baby is trained and co-owned by Fraser Turnbull and partner John Turnbull Jr, of Glace Bay, N.S.
The popular Cecil Ladner Memorial Pacing Series attracted the top Maritime Invitational stars as the final was contested in race 11. Arabica, in line to driver Kenny Arsenault, was able to reach up in an exciting stretch drive to win the race in an impressive 1:55.3. Carnivore(John Holmes) drove up to be second while Epanephrine, who was involved in an early speed battle with Oakmont (Danny Romo) was able to complete the triactor ticket. The horse is trained by Anthony Stymest for the Hardy Mill Stable of Stratford.
In other news, Aled Hanover, with Alex Sobey in the bike, looked sharp in a 1:55.3 score while veteran driver Ron Gass recorded his 1,300 career win aboard Caliban Hanover in the open trot. The trotter is owned by long-time friend Wendell MacDonald of Cornwall.
Driver Mike Stevenson had a big night at the office. The pilot, who is teaming up with Metro Building Supplies in the Drive for Charity event, had four winners on the card.