Tobins Chester (Shanghai Phil) smashed the track record for three-year-old pacing colts during an all-stakes harness racing event on Sunday afternoon at Red Shores Summerside Raceway.
Driven by Jason Hughes for trainer Ashley Gamester and owner Donald MacRae, the son of Shanghai Phil led the entire mile in a time of 1:53.3 in a $24,300 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold division, breaking the previous record of 1:53.4 set by Complete Player in 2017.
In the other $24,300 Gold division, Merigo Magic (Tobago Cays) claimed victory with a 1:56 finish for trainer-driver Adam Merner and owners Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron, and Ian Walker.
The $12,150 Grassroots divisions of the Joe O’Brien Memorial for three-year-old pacing colts saw Justa Country Boy (Vertical Horizon) driven by Darren Crowe win in 1:58.2 for trainer Gardener McCallum. Meanwhile, Woodmere Armour (Rollwithitharry) crossed the line in 1:56.4 under Marc Campbell from the Kevin MacLean barn.
Merner continued his strong form, recording four driving wins, including a commanding 13-length victory by his trainee Oceanview Rumours (Green Manalishi) in 1:59.2. This set a new track and Atlantic record for two-year-old trotting fillies in her $18,150 Lady Slipper division, breaking the previous record of 2:01.3 held by Supreme Rockette. Oceanview Rumours has now won six straight for owners Scott Roloson, Bill Roloson, and Joey Aylward.
Marc Campbell also collected four driving wins, one of which came aboard Bless Me Father (Father Patrick) in a $18,150 Lady Slipper two-year-old trotting colt division, setting a new track record of 1:59.4 for owner Donna Van Meer and trainer Landon Campbell. This eclipsed the previous record of 2:01 held by West River Jet.
Dusty Lane Wee led wire-to-wire in her $17,300 Lady Slipper trot division for three-year-old fillies, with Marc Campbell filling in as the driver for trainer Lenny Myers and owners Garry MacDonald and Ronnie Gass, finishing in 2:00.4. Rocket Blast (E L Rocket) driven by Corey MacPherson, captured the three-year-old trotting colt division in 2:01.1 for owner-trainer Carl Bagnall in the $17,300 event.
In the $20,200 Lady Slipper Gold divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies, Woodmere Delta (Rollwithitharry) took the first race in 1:56 with David Dowling aboard for trainer Jeff Holmes and owners Robert Sumarah, Frank Brundle, and Brad Sumarah. Miss Dutton (Rollwithitharry), driven by Merner, claimed the second division in 1:57.2 for trainer Kuri White and owner Shoulda Been Onabeach Stb of Charlottetown. Wednesday (Betterthancheddar) dominated the final division by seven lengths, stopping the clock at 1:55.1 with Myles Heffernan Sr. driving for trainer Myles Heffernan Jr. and owner Jackie Heffernan.
In the $10,100 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies, Woodmere Kennedie (Marc Campbell) won in 1:56 for trainer Mike McGuigan, Woodmere Lizzie (Merner) clocked 1:59.2 for trainer David O’Brien, and Showdown (Gilles Barrieau) crossed the finish line in 1:57.1 for trainer Earl Watts.
Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson) took the $5,150 leg of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series, presented by Standardbred Canada, with a winning time of 1:55.1.
Live racing resumes on Tuesday evening at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown.