CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Woodmere Stealdeal will put his perfect record to the test in stakes action tonight at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park as part of Gold Cup and Saucer week racing.
The 10-dash program has a 7 p.m. start time with Woodmere Stealdeal the heavy favourite in a $12,980 Atlantic Sires Stakes A division for two-year-old pacing colts in the finale.
Marc Campbell will again drive Woodmere Stealdeal for trainer Danny Romo and owners Kevin Dorey of Middle Sackville, N.S., and Robert Sumarah of Halifax. With five wins from as many starts, the 1:55.2 winner has already set three track records.
Co-owner Dorey bought his first standardbred more than 40 years ago and admits he has never seen a Maritime-bred horse with a stride like this son of Steelhead Hanover.
“I’ve been watching Maritime breds since I bought my first horse when I was 16 and I haven’t seen one that is gaited like he is,” Dorey said of his $22,500 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale purchase. “He has a big, long, easygoing gait to him that makes a quarter in 27-28 look like he is in slow motion.”
Woodmere Stealdeal was a 1:56.2 victor in sires stakes action at Northside Downs in North Sydney, N.S., to earn a track record on July 25, then came back the next week for a four-length romp in 1:55.4 over Inverness Raceway, while lowering the track record for two-year-olds by more than two seconds. He cruised the first seven-eighths of a mile in the Callbeck stake in Summerside last week then stepped on the gas in the stretch drive to close in 27.1 for a 1:55.2 victory.
The colt out of Very Ideal Hanover, the mother of Gold Cup and Saucer finalist Woodmere Ideal Art, was raised by Bruce Wood of Marshfield and Dorey knew when he saw him that he was the horse he wanted to own.
“He had a small, beautiful head on him and his confirmation was perfect,” the Bluenoser said. “We went to the farm and picked out three Woodmeres, but he was our No. 1 choice. I said to my wife, ‘I think this one is going to be ours’.”
Dorey used to be partners with the late Gary Ross, who died in 2010, then teamed up with Sumarah a few years later.
Romo is an accomplished driver in his own right with 3,750 wins to his credit but decided he would not be driving in any more stakes action.
“Even last summer Danny didn’t drive in a lot of stakes races,” Dorey said. “He is 68 and wants to continue training and get out of the driving completely. It is a young man’s sport and those young fellas are out there going 100 all the time and they are very aggressive. Marc Campbell is our first choice. He is pretty well No. 1 in the Maritimes, so when you can get Marc, you’re pretty lucky.”
Dorey is hoping for even bigger things from the talented rookie as he continues through the stakes season.
“Marc has never really busted him off the gate yet and hasn’t had to. Even cruising he still gets down there in 29 seconds. He is unreal. And he has more in the tank that is freaky part about it.”
Nicholas Oakes is covering harness racing at Gold Cup and Saucer Week for The Guardian. This is his 11th year covering the big week for the news outlet.
CDP Entries
Harness racing entries for tonight at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park. Post time is 7 p.m.
Race 1
1. Doctor Sunshine M. Bradley
2. Yummy Spice Bro. MacPhee
3. Lilac Lady J. Hughes
4. Sweet Silvia K. Murphy
5. Eastern Sexy W. MacKay
6. Chania Twain B. Leblanc
7. Hook Her Boots Ma. Campbell
8. Passion N Pearls A. Merner
Race 2
1. Betterthanbutter A. Merner
2. Dylans Future N. Rogers
3. Shadowcross Hooper M. Heffernan Sr.
4. My Boy Cade Ma. Campbell
5. Get Home Terry K. Murphy
Race 3
1. Outrageous Spirit G. Hennessey
2. Selfie Bro. MacPhee
3. Cinder Angelina J. Hughes
4. Love In Paradise D. Dowling
5. Brief Interlude W. Walker
6. Elm Grove Misty D.B. Kelly
7. Windmerenoharmdone K. Arsenault
8. HP Rubis Joyce G. Barrieau
Race 4
1. Dude Perfect N. Rogers
2. General Harper G. Barrieau
3. Woodmere Lexus A. Merner
4. Promise Me Art K. Arsenault
5. Whistler J. Hughes
6. California Jack Bro. MacPhee
Race 5
1. Catch My Contrail G. Barrieau
2. Philanthropist A. Merner
3. Vegas Rich Ma. Campbell
4. Fern Hill Dynamic C. MacPherson
5. Bobjohnski Bro. MacPhee
6. Silverhill Buddy D. Dowling
7. Lil Beau Duke K. Murphy
8. J k Cowboy D. Spence
Race 6
1. Pictonian Thunder A. Merner
2. Mr D Duff K. Arsenault
3. Class Hero C. MacPherson
4. Handovertheroses R. Doucet
5. Southfield Stevie Ma. Campbell
6. Gascoigne Sundae Bro. MacPhee
Race 7
1. Distinctiv Rusty R. Doucet
2. Selkirk Echo G. Barrieau
3. Bank Shot Hanover J. Hughes
4. Ramset D. Dowling
5. Shiftyn Georgie D. Spence
6. Well Did P. Langille
7. Ultimatelyhandsome K. Mason
8. Smart Official K. Arsenault
Race 8
1. Windemere Best Man A. Merner
2. Dollars And Spence K. Arsenault
3. Woodmere Cecil P. Langille
4. Woodmere Alvin Ma. Campbell
5. Dustylanegoliath G. Barrieau
6. Mr Rielly C. MacPherson
7. Dusty Lane Morgan M. MacDonald
8. Elliot Moose J. Hughes
Race 9
1. Medici Hanover G. Barrieau
2. Dueling Banjos Ma. Campbell
3. Killean Finale K. Murphy
4. Good Luck Kathy Bro. MacPhee
5. Julep Hanover W. Myers
6. Warrawee Ulla J. Hughes
7. Dancers Pass D. Dowling
8. Miss Kabana V. Poulton
Race 10
1. Rotten Ronnie R. Doucet
2. Bettim Again K. Arsenault
3. Moneyorroses S. Shepherd
4. Justcallmedoc J. Hughes
5. CL Gangsta Boy C. MacPherson
6. Woodmere Stealdeal Ma. Campbell
7. Steel Reefer G. Barrieau
8. Jadensmagicsteel A. Merner
