CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Bugsy Maguire may have lost the early tussle off the gate but there was no stopping his march to the winner’s circle in the Cecil Ladner memorial invitational Saturday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Rose Run Quest (Marc Campbell) was quickest off the wings in the $5,500 feature with Doctor Royal (Walter Cheverie) getting away in the pocket spot and Bugsy Maguire ducking into the three-hole in the first turn.
The fractions were tripped in 27.4 and 56.4 then driver Myles Heffernan Sr., angled Bugsy Maguire out of third and began his first-over advance on Rose Run Quest before the three-quarters of 1:25.4. He was able to wear down his pace-setting foe in the final quarter and prevailed by one-and-a-half lengths in 1:55.2 on a track listed with a one-second variant due to rain.
Rose Run Quest was second while Euchred (David Dowling) was third.
Walter Simmons of Summerside holds the ownership papers of the five-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight while Bugsy Maguire hangs his harness bag in the Wade Sorrie stable of Pinette.
The Cecil Ladner memorial was the top event, but the Ladner family was front and centre in another top race as Jordies Hope was a winner in the $2,800 fillies and mares open in 1:57.1 with Corey MacPherson at the lines. Brian Ladner, the son of the late Cecil Ladner, co-owns and trains the daughter of Astronomical with fellow Charlottetown residents Lillian and Kevin Ladner.
The night was also home to a harness racing rarity with three dead heats on the evening, including two different races with dead heats for the winning spot.
Race 2 on the card saw Hysteria (MacPherson) hit the wire in unison with Fox Valley Riviera (Jason Hughes) in 2:00. Michael Gallant trains Hysteria while Kevin Gills handles the training duties on Fox Valley Riviera.
The second dead heat for victory was in Race 5 as Vaughan Doyle-trainee Windsun Rebel (Dale Spence) crept up in the final strides to hit the line together with the Jackie Matheson-trained Give Em Heck (Gilles Barrieau) in a mile time of 2:01.2.
Gillis had two training wins on the program as Jeb closed out the card with a 1:57.4 score with Hughes in the bike.
Midnight Matt tripled up Hughes in the weekly Drive For Home Series event presented by Hillside Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac. Time of the mile was 1:58 for the Jennifer Doyle owned and trained pacer.
MacPherson also had three wins on the card as Soccer Hanover captured the $3,000 junior invitational in 1:56.3 for owner-trained Leith Waite of Summerside.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
Harness racing results from Saturday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Race 1 – All Turain (D. Dowling) 3.70 2.60 2.10; Dees Boy (K. Arsenault) 4.90 2.10; One Tough Nerd (R. Neill) 2.40.
Times: 28, 58.1, 1:29.4, 2:01.4. Also Ran: Sanchez Blue Chip, Useful Hanover, Top Of The Morning, Windemere Nick, Pictonian Rush. Winning horse owned by Lee Hicken, P.E.I. Exactor 6-3 $9.60; Triactor 6-3-1 $85.80; Superfecta 6-3-1-7 $112.50.
Race 2 – Sterling Thought (G. Barrieau) 43.80 7.00 3.50; Oceanview Helios (M. Campbell) 5.90 3.00; Foxwood Billy (K. Murphy) 2.60.
Times: 29.4, 1:03, 1:31.1, 2:02.4. Also Ran: Gordies Last Foal, Tiki Hut, Pineapple Express (DNF), Proven Boots (DNF), Whipple Effect (Disqualified). Winning horse owned by Dr. Don Ling, Heather Ling, Dillon Mcentee, P.E.I. Exactor 7-2 $494.90; Triactor 7-2-ALL $982.50; Daily Double 6-3 $22.30.
Race 3 – Fox Valley Riveira (J. Hughes) 9.50 11.20 3.80; Hysteria (C. MacPherson) 3.40 3.40 2.10; Selkirk Echo (G. Barrieau) 2.10.
Times: 28, 57.4, 1:28.1, 2:00. Also Ran: R ES Daz, Howmac Magic, Bold N Bad, Fern Hill Dynamic. Winning horses owned by Robi Hughes, P.E.I., (Fox Valley Riveira); and Billy Mackinnon, Sandra Webster and Michael Gallant, P.E.I., (Hysteria). Exactor 2-6 $63.80 and 6-2 $15.50; Triactor 2-6-1 $138 and 6-2-1 $36.80; Superfecta 2-6-1-3 $37.80 and 6-2-1-3 $14.50.
Race 4 – At The Helm (A. Merner) 2.70 3.10 2.30; Westward Whim (C. MacPherson) 5.90 4.50; Dusty Lane Cortez (D. Dowling) 3.70.
Times: 29.1, 59, 1:28.4, 1:59.4. Also Ran: Ten Mile Beach, Shadows In Town, Cal Hanover. Winning horse owned by Brad MacPherson, Kent Livingston, Wade and Kyla MacDonald, P.E.I. Exactor 4-2 $6.90; Triactor 4-2-6 $29.70; Superfecta 4-2-6-1 $7.96.
Race 5 – Windsun Rebel (D. Spence) 18.60 4.70 5.90; Give Em Heck (G. Barrieau) 2.30 2.40 2.10; Zingers Laugh (M. Campbell) 6.20.
Times: 28.1, 59, 1:30, 2:01.2. Also Ran: Fly With Max, Desired Treasure, The Big Bite, Miramonttogo. Winning horse owned by Darla Jay and Shelly Wilkie, P.E.I., (Windsun Rebel); and Colin Sheppard, Newfoundland and Labrador, (Give Em Heck). Exactor 1-3 $75.30 and 3-1 $12.10; Triactor 1-3-4 $502.25 and 3-1-4 $19.85.
Race 6 – Jordies Hope (C. MacPherson) 2.80 2.10 2.10; Woodmere Finesse (D. Spence) 2.10 2.10; West River Ambyr (S. Shepherd) 4.40.
Times: 28.1, 57.3, 1:27, 1:57.1. Also Ran: Woodmere Chella, NoMatterWhen, RamblingLily. Winning horse owned by Lillian, Kevin and Brian Ladner, P.E.I. Exactor 5-3 $10.20; Triactor 5-3-4 $37; Superfecta 5-3-4-1 $23.70.
Race 7 – Painted Pony (M. Campbell) 14.60 6.00 5.80; Tempo Seelster (K. Murphy) 2.70 2.10; Casimir Obama (M. McGuigan) 4.40.
Times: 28.1, 58.1, 1:28.2, 1:58.2. Also Ran: Jetta Flys, Good Friday Three, Rockys World, Perfect Escape. Winning horse owned by Raymond White, P.E.I. Exactor 2-5 $75.40; Triactor 2-5-3 $196.80; Superfecta 2-5-3-1 $112.55.
Race 8 – Midnight Matt (J. Hughes) 12.30 4.80 4.00; Big Surf (A. Merner) 3.50 2.20; Rockstar Drums (C. MacPherson) 3.20.
Times: 28.2, 57.1, 1:27.2, 1:58. Also Ran: Starcastic/Whim Roader (Dead Heat), Oh To Be Me, Woodmere Soul, Celebrate Your Bet. Winning horse owned by Jennifer Doyle, P.E.I. Exactor 7-3 $17.10; Triactor 7-3-5 $94.30; Superfecta 7-3-5-2 $23.03 and 7-3-5-4 $25.47.
Race 9 – Soccer Hanover (C. MacPherson) 8.30 4.90 3.50; Hes Marvalous (M. Heffernan) 12.60 7.20; Burn Out Hanover (G. Barrieau) 6.40.
Times: 28, 57.4, 1:27.1, 1:56.3. Also Ran: Half Cut, J J Powerball, Eagle Jolt, Rockin Indy, Czar Seelster. Winning horse owned by Leith Waite, P.E.I. Exactor 7-3 $81.30; Triactor 7-3-8 $300.35.
Race 10 – Heartland Eclipse (D. Dowling) 30.40 14.00 6.30; Forever Paradise (M. Campbell) 4.60 3.10; Mick Dundee (D. MacNeill) 2.10.
Times: 28.2, 59.1, 1:28.3, 1:58.3. Also Ran: I C True Grit, TheGreatMaelstrom, WhosUrWinner, Twin B Shadow. Winning horse owned by Lee Raymond, Nova Scotia. Exactor 1-4 $187; Triactor 1-4-3 $333.40; Superfecta 1-4-3-6 $124.20.
Race 11 – Bugsy Maguire (M. Heffernan) 8.30 5.60 3.60; Rose Run Quest (M. Campbell) 7.10 4.50; Euchred (D. Dowling) 4.30.
Times: 27.4, 56.4, 1:25.4, 1:55.2. Also Ran: All Artist, Down On My Luck, Doctor Royal, Revenant, Screen Test. Winning horse owned by Walter Simmons, P.E.I. Exactor 3-4 $35.30; Triactor 3-4-6 $156.90; Superfecta 3-4-6-5 $216.80.
Race 12 – Jeb (J. Hughes) 5.60 6.80 3.30; Silverhill Buddy (D. Dowling) 21.20 6.10; Zero Rate (K. Arsenault) 3.10.
Times: 28, 58.3, 1:28, 1:57.4. Also Ran: Harbourlite Jerry, Howmacs Dragonator, Tobinator, ER Quinn, Likely To Win. Winning horse owned by Robi Hughes, Blair and Eric Maclauchlan, P.E.I. Exactor 5-1 $80.50; Triactor 5-1-2 $692.10; Superfecta 5-1-2-4 $80.76; Daily Double 3-5 $79.70.
Wager – $51,512.