CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Some newcomers along with deep divisional groups highlighted the 2017 harness racing season on Prince Edward Island.
Here is a look at numbers 20 to 11 of the top-30 stories of the season in part two of a three-part series.
RELATED: CLICK HERE FOR STORIES 21-30
20. Free-For-All Hit
Adkins Hanover landed on the scene in 2017 for trainer Trevor Hicken and was an instant hit in the elite pacing ranks on the East Coast with 12 wins and more than $25,000 banked in Atlantic Canada. The pacer captured the $5,000 Premiers Pace in 1:55.4 in August in Charlottetown and the $7,500 Johnny Conroy Invitational at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia in September, stopping the clock in 1:54.2.
19. Missed Payday
The $100,000 Dash For Cash proved to be a popular promotion again in 2017 with a patron having to select the correct order of finish from first to eighth in the final race of the program. The Maritime Breeder’s final was a close call for one patron, who had the correct order of horses from third to last, but had Island Energetic to win over Ashes To Ashes. Ashes To Ashes upset from Post 8 in the event with Island Energetic settling for second and the $100,000 prize being left unclaimed.
18. Australian Power
Crombie A formerly held the Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP) track record, but put a new honour on his race card during the 2017 Exhibition Cup in Bible Hill, N.S. The classy gelding won the $7,500 event in a track record 1:52.4 for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Earl Watts.
17. Three-Year-Old Speed
Complete Player paced into the record books on Governor’s Plate night at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway, winning his Atlantic Sires Stakes division in 1:53.4 to make him the fastest three-year-old Maritime-bred ever on the East Coast. Mark Bradley supplied the driver for trainer Tom Weatherbie and owner David Kennedy of Charlottetown. The champion colt made one more start on July 22 at Truro Raceway and has yet to resurface.
16. Express Drive
While she had to deal with her stablemate, Filly Forty Seven, throughout the year, Elektra Express had a profitable 2017 with 10 wins and five thirds from 18 starts for trainer Campbell and owner Danica Ellis of Nova Scotia. Elektra Express was dominant early in the year but ran into Filly Forty Seven as well as the talented Traces Of Purple later in the season.
15. Deep Trotting Ranks
Was Freddie the best aged trotter of 2017? Absolutely. But was he the best by a large margin? Not exactly. The open trot was a tough division with Freddie headlining the group with his 1:56.3 CDP and Atlantic record mile in June. But he was far from invincible with Morosita Bi setting a 1:57.2 CDP female trotting standard the very next week and Osprey Impact also setting a 1:57.2 Summerside track record in July. Kennel Buddy and Holy Molie Maggie also beat Freddie fair and square during the year.
14. Competitive Females
The open pacing mares ranks were full of intrigue all season with a fairly evenly matched group. Ramblinglily stole the show early in the season but then faced serious challenges from Prettyndangerous, Good Luck Kathy, Shadows Mystery and Brodys Leona in a division full of surprises and great to bet and watch.
13. Sophomore Tussles
The 2017 season saw a variety of competitive divisions, including the three-year-old pacing colts. The three Atlantic Triple Crown events all went to different colts with Ashes To Ashes, Island Energetic and Tobinator all winning a championship race.
12. Quick Out The Gate
Track records are an achievement of their own. Setting one in your first lifetime start is nearly unheard of, but that is what Sock It Away did, winning his career debut in a track record 1:56 at the Summerside Raceway for driver Campbell, trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. The rookie son of first crop sire Pang Shui made more magic later in the year, winning in 1:55.3 over the CDP in track-record fashion. That Charlottetown record wouldn’t last a whole month though.
11. The Cape Breton Boy
After breaking into the driving ranks in 2016, Adam Merner had a career season in 2017 becoming a sought-after catch driver. The Port Morien, N.S., native had 83 wins and $181,000 in purse earnings during his busy year.
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
