Flemsteen breaks Charlottetown trotting record

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Flemsteen (Explosive Matter) carved his name into the Atlantic Canadian Record Books Thursday evening with a dazzling harness racing victory in the $5,000 Open Trot at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park

Flemsteen ($3.40) sat the pocket behind Fight Song (Driven by Jason Hughes) through fractions of 28.2, 56.4 and 1:26.1 before Ken Murphy tipped him and powered away to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:54.2. The mile erased the former Track and Atlantic trotting record of 1:54.3. The eight-year-old son of Explosive Matter is trained by Jennifer Doyle for owners Max Webster Stable of Inverness, N.S., Jeffrey Skinner of Hammonds Plains, N.S., Derrill Murphy of Lethbridge, Alta., and Clair Murphy of Millvale. Former track trotting record holder Fight Song was second while Buckhead Ridge (Marc Campbell) completed the triactor.

FLEMSTEEN REPLAY

Call Of Honor ($3.50) delivered in race 2 with Ken Murphy in the bike to double up trainer Jennifer Doyle and owner Lorne Larkin of Mount Herbert. The three-year-old Legion Of Honor gelding won by five in 1:58.4 over Hoponarocket (Mike McGuigan) and Emberlees Rocket (Campbell).

Maid To Play ($2.10) opened the card with a front-end romp for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Ron Matheson in 1:57.3 for owner Jean Leblanc of Bathurst, N.B. Nobel Hanover (Brady Sweet) was second with Woodmere Cheetah (Myles Heffernan Sr.) third.

Windemere Dinozzi ($2.10) was a strong winner in race 3 as Marc Campbell steered the Saul Lanigan trainee to victory in 1:58.2.

Ninety Proof ($2.40) controlled the tempo in race 4 for Barrieau and trainer Mike Dowling, winning the $4,200 trot in 2:00.4 for owners Michael Arnold and Amy Lakie. My Pocket Rocket (Murphy) was second with Miss Gracie Ridge (Adam Campbell) third.

Cinnamon Swirlz ($26.00) sprung the upset in race 5 for Corey MacPherson and trainer-owner Stacey Darrach of Stratford, winning in 1:56.4.

Starship Beauty ($7.30) wired the field in race 6 for Paul Langille and trainer Kyle Williams, stopping the clock in 1:54.2 for co-owner Windemere Farms.

Lila Berry ($3.90) captured race 7 in 1:55.4 with MacPherson aboard for trainer Mike McGuigan and owner Little Pond Stables of Little Pond.

Jafetica ($3.50) front-stepped her way to a six-length score in race 9 for trainer-driver Myles Heffernan Sr. and owner Jackie Heffernan of Summerville.

More Than A Woman ($4.80) made the final strides count in race 10 for driver Paul Langille and trainer Wayne Watson, winning in 1:54.3 for owner Jennifer Ritchie of Kingston, N.B. Mysterious Ways (Hughes) was second while Isle Mach Da Money (Barrieau) landed third.

My Happy Place ($2.80) converted from the two-hole in race 11 for Barrieau and trainer Jackie Matheson. The Shadow Play mare stopped the clock in 1:55.4 for owners Patrick Morris and Jodi Lynn Matheson of Charlottetown. Jm Sportsfan (Steven Shepherd) did the road work and finished second with Woodmere Kennedie (Campbell) third.

Woodmere Lizzie ($13.80) closed out the 12-dash card with a 1:58.2 score for Ryan Desroche and trainer David O’Brien. The five-year-old Arthur Blue Chip mare is owned by John MacGillivray of Charlottetown and Albert MacGillivray of Middle Sackville, N.S.

Live racing continues Saturday evening at 6 P.M., at Red Shores Charlottetown featuring the Cecil Ladner Memorial Invitational.

For more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores