CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Battling to the opening quarter, Imagine Speed took control of the front end and never relinquished it in the Saturday afternoon feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Drive Dale Spence hustled the daughter of Ponder off the gate from Post 4 in the $2,550 Open Mares Pace and was strung to the first fraction by Post 3 starter Dancers Pass (driven by David Dowling).
Imagine Speed then cleared to the lead in the 28.1 opening panel and proceeded to cut out splits of 57.4 and 1:27.2 without seeing a challenger before closing out the mile in 1:57.3 for the 1 ½-length decision over Jordies Hope (Jason Hughes) and West River Ambyr (Steven Shepherd).
Nicholas Oakes trains Imagine Speed for owners Jessica Hawkins of Warren Grove and Doug Matheson of Cornwall.
The ‘King’ of Island racing, Marc Campbell, was on top of his game during the 12-dash card and made four trips to the winner’s circle.
Campbell captured the $2,300 Open Trot with Freddie in 2:00 from his own stable while stablemate Buckaroo won his trotting assignment in 2:01.1. The Winsloe driver also won with Paythelinebluechip in 1:58.3 for trainer Jay Noye of Pleasant Valley and with Better Be In Love in 1:59.4 for Brendan Mullen of Mount Stewart for the quadruple.
