CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – To call it anything short of a huge accomplishment would be selling it short as a P.E.I.-bred filly currently leads all three-year-olds for earnings in North America.
Bettim Jackie is the richest three-year-old of any gait or sex currently racing in Canada or the U.S. Her $44,850 in Canadian earnings translates to $35,884 in U.S. funds to put her ahead of every sophomore pacer or trotter on the continent for money made in 2018.
Bettim Jackie was born in Milton Station, bred and trained down to race by Jeff Lilley at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The daughter of Andreoli Hanover is now co-owned by Lilley, Blair MacLauchlan of Stratford and Danny Purcell of Newport, N.S., and trained by Richard Moreau in Ontario where she now rides a two-race win streak at Woodbine Raceway in Rexdale, Ont.
The latest start for the pacing filly was on March 2 where she was a winner in 1:53.4 with Louis Philippe Roy in the bike in a $18,000 class. Bettim Jackie is also tied for fourth place amongst three-year-olds for dash wins this season and sits tied for third for fastest win time at 1:53.2.
Expect to see Bettim Jackie back on the East Coast this summer for three-year-old Maritime-bred stakes action, which is expected to kick off in late May.
P.E.I. Scene
Island racing was saddened by the loss of Kirk Bulger recently. The 65-year-old was a dedicated participant, fan and owner in the Island industry. My condolences to his family.
The Prince County Horsemen’s Club awards banquet is set for Saturday, March 31, at the Credit Union Place Convention Centre in Summerside with John Campbell as the guest speaker. Campbell is the top money-winning driver of all-time in North American harness racing.
Maritime Wide
In Nova Scotia, breeder Donald Porter recently passed away. A longtime breeder and owner in that province, Porter raised horses with the ‘Finesse’ name like Maritime champions Dube Finesse, Deep Finesse and Force Ore Finesse.
Across The Continent
An Island-bred horse was a very impressive winner in his New Jersey debut recently. Pappy Go Go was a 1:53.4 victory at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., with Marcus Miller in the bike for trainer Andrew Harris.
The son of Tad The Stud was campaigned by Marc Campbell for his undefeated three-year-old season in 2017 then subsequently sold at auction earlier this year for $30,000 US. Bred by Meridian Farms of Milton Station, Pappy Go Go was entered to race again Thursday night at Yonkers Raceway in New York with Post 3 as the morning-line favourite.
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
