CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Only missing the top three once all day, David Dowling came out on top in the annual Paul MacDonald Memorial Driving Championship on Horse Person’s Day Saturday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Dowling made just one trip to the historic winner’s circle in the eight-race competition but was never far out of the final picture with four seconds, a pair of thirds and a fourth-place finish to complete the day with 69 points. The competition is named in honour of a former leading driver at the capital oval.
Dowling generously donated his earnings from the eight-race competition to the family of late Red Shores’ track maintenance worker Ryan Mullaly, who died in a tragic traffic accident in August. Corey MacPherson was second in the competition with 65 points while Gilles Barrieau was third at 59 points.
MacPherson won the first two races of the competition with Lorne Valley Barb (1:56.4) in a new lifetime best for Barry MacLeod of Cardigan, followed by a win with the Jason Hughes-trained Rocknrols Image (1:57.4) in the second leg.
Results
Final standings in the Paul MacDonald Memorial Driving Championship.
Driver Points
1. David Dowling 69
2. Corey MacPherson 65
3. Gilles Barrieau 59
4. Adam Merner 57
5. Marc Campbell 49
6. Steven Shepherd 46
7. Dave Kelly Sr. 40
8. Donnie MacNeill 38
Marc Campbell hit the wire first in the third leg with Painted Pony (1:58.1) for the veteran pacer’s 40th lifetime win for trainer Raymond White of Belfast. Ten Mile Beach (1:58.3) took Barrieau all the way in the fourth race of the competition from the Brett Leblanc stable. Dowling had his lone victory in the next leg with the Robert Phillips-trained Traces Of Purple (1:58.3).
Jens Credit (1:57.4) blasted from Post 8 to strike the front and take Barrieau to the wire in the sixth race of the challenge for trainer Ryan Perrot. Rockin Indy (1:57.1) was the next winner for MacPherson and trainer Troy Murray. The final winner in the driving championship was Smart Official (1:56.4) for Barrieau and trainer Peter Lanigan.
The top class of the day was the $2,500 Steven MacRae memorial, claimed by Pillage And Burn in 1:56 with Ken Murphy at the lines for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile, Que.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
CDP Results
Harness racing results from Saturday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Race 1 – TheBossIsAGirl (G. Barrieau) 9.70 3.60 2.20; ToonieTina (K. Murphy) 5.70 2.90; Elm Grove Nanci (M. Campbell) 3.80.
Times: 28.1, 58, 1:28.1, 1:58.1. Also Ran: Akrotiri, Ms Moyse.
Winning horse owned by Allison and Brian Ramsay, P.E.I. Exactor 3-5 $94.90; Triactor 3-5-1 $263.30; Superfecta 3-5-1-2 $465.90.
Race 2 – Lorne Valley Barb (C. MacPherson) 3.10 2.40 2.10; HowmacRiverCruiser (D. Dowling) 5.40 4.20; Anzula (M. Campbell) 4.40.
Times: 29.1, 58.3, 1:28, 1:56.4. Also Ran: Elm Grove Misty, Khitam Image, Roxy Lund, I Can Do It, Nancys Girl. Winning horse owned by Barry Macleod, P.E.I. Exactor 4-5 $29.70; Triactor 4-5-1 $65.70; Superfecta 4-5-1-6 $100.85; Daily Double 3-4 $24.40.
Race 3 – RockNRols Image (C. MacPherson) 4.80 2.70 2.40; What A Babe (D. Dowling) 2.50 2.10; Avid Yankee (M. Campbell) 2.60.
Times: 28.1, 57.1, 1:27.4, 1:57.4. Also Ran: Cougar Gal, Badlands Giovanna, Cinder Angelina, Private Dancer, Bad Silver (Refunded). Winning horse owned by David Macdonald, P.E.I. Exactor 1-7 $23.10; Triactor 1-7-2 $56.40.
Race 4 – Painted Pony (M. Campbell) 14.20 7.70 3.60; Desired Treasure (C. MacPherson) 3.50 2.10; Slide Guitar (D. Dowling) 2.30.
Times: 28.0, 58.1, 1:28.1, 1:58.1. Also Ran: EGamer, Jetta Flys, Fern Hill Dynamic, Sunny Beach, Twin B Shadow. Winning horse owned by Raymond White, P.E.I. Exactor 6-2 $24.50; Triactor 6-2-1 $58.40; Superfecta 6-2-1-5 $97.25.
Race 5 – Ten Mile Beach (G. Barrieau) 3.00 2.20 2.10; Saulsbrook Lassie (A. Merner) 2.90 2.80; Rash B Havior (D. Dowling) 5.10.
Times: 28.4, 59.1, 1:29.4, 1:58.3. Also Ran: Philanthropist, Dilans Mustang, BobJohnski, Payback. Winning horse owned by Brett and Joel Leblanc, Nova Scotia. Exactor 1-2 $6.10; Triactor 1-2-8 $25.40; Superfecta 1-2-8-7 $134.95.
Race 6 – Phantom Shadow (M. Bradley) 5.80 2.60 2.10; Kateanna (C. MacPherson) 3.80 2.10; Galterio Hanover (D. Dowling) 2.10.
Times: 30.3, 1:00.3, 1:30.4, 2:00.2. Also Ran: ATuffLittleGuy, P Js Devil, D Cs First Gearl, J J Jillian, Google It, PocketFulOfPromise (Refunded). Winning horse owned by Peter Breau and Ann Macaulay, New Brunswick. Exactor 3-1 $14.20; Triactor 3-1-5 $21.40; Superfecta 3-1-5-6 $104.75.
Race 7 – Traces Of Purple (D. Dowling) 3.30 2.40 2.10; Dreas Good Powow (C. MacPherson) 9.40 4.40; Jordies Hope (G. Barrieau) 2.40.
Times: 28.3, 58.4, 1:28.4, 1:58.3. Also Ran: Miss Sangria, Tell Me Why, Dancers Pass, Howmac Blaze, PayTheLineBlueChip. Winning horse owned by Robert Phillips, P.E.I. Exactor 3-6 $35.20; Triactor 3-6-4 $82.50; Superfecta 3-6-4-1 $576.05.
Race 8 – Jens Credit (G. Barrieau) 6.80 5.20 4.20; Dueling Banjos (D. Dowling) 4.50 4.10; Outrageous Spirit (A. Merner) 3.80.
Times: 28.1, 57.4, 1:28.1, 1:57.4. Also Ran: Selfie, Imagine Speed, Bayside Alexis, Howmac Missy, Bettim Jenny. Winning horse owned by Carrie Cormier, Gordon Gallant, Wade Olsen and Sandra Webster, P.E.I. Exactor 8-2 $40; Triactor 8-2-6 $127.20; Superfecta 8-2-6-7 $527.95.
Race 9 – Rockin Indy (C. MacPherson) 2.60 2.30 2.10; Zero Rate (D. Dowling) 3.40 3.40; AGood Time To Rock (G. Barrieau) 2.70.
Times: 28.1, 58.1, 1:27.3, 1:57.1. Also Ran: Likely To Win, Union Man Hanover, Gringo Star. Winning horse owned by Troy Murray, P.E.I. Exactor 3-6 $8.40; Triactor 3-6-5 $22.30; Superfecta 3-6-5-4 $39.25.
Race 10 – Smart Official (G. Barrieau) 3.90 4.20 3.20; Harbourlite Jerry (S. Shepherd) 8.30 5.80; Legendary Ron (A. Merner) 6.10.
Times: 28.3, 58.2, 1:27.2, 1:56.4. Also Ran: Tempo Seelster, J K Express, Tobinator, I C True Grit. Winning horse owned by Peter Lanigan and Sandra Lee Stead, P.E.I. Exactor 3-6 $32.30; Triactor 3-6-7 $776.90; Superfecta 3-6-7-4 $196.45.
Race 11 – Pillage And Burn (K. Murphy) 3.60 2.90 2.10; Mick Dundee (D. MacNeill) 12.00 5.50; Revenant (A. Merner) 2.10.
Times: 28.4, 58.4, 1:27.3, 1:56. Also Ran: Shadow Of A Daut, Winter Blast, Creepin. Winning horse owned by Perry Burke, Quebec. Exactor 2-6 $90.30; Triactor 2-6-5 $248.70; Superfecta 2-6-5-1 $1,604.95; Daily Double 3-2 $16.40.
Wager – $44,074.
