Mappos Lion and Lady Cafe Au Lait steal Super Saturday spotlight

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Mappos Lion unleashed his trademark closing speed to capture the $50,000 Premier’s Cup at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, while Lady Cafe Au Lait lowered her own track record in the other $50,000 final on the 16-dash Super Saturday program.

Ryan Desroche guided Mappos Lion ($6.20) to the biggest win of the O’Leary natives driving career as he remains undefeated when holding the lines on the now 47-timer winner. The Cape Breton bred pacer reached up to a half-length victory in the race 16 Premier’s Cup for trainer Taylor Doyle and owners Hailee Currie of Rocky Point, P.E.I., and Carol Campbell of Baddeck, N.S. The nine-year-old son of Sunshine Beach was seventh at the opening quarter before advancing with cover and storming home in 27.2 to stop the clock in 1:52.

MAPPOS LION REPLAY

Miki Shan N (Driven by Corey MacPherson) set fractions of 27, 56.2 and 1:24 before settling for second. Arbitrage Hanover (Ken Murphy) completed the triactor.

“He’s just unbelievable; There’s no end to him,” Desroche said afterwards of Mappos Lion. “I don’t have many words for him. It’s about the only time you’ll catch me speechless. Just thankful to be part of it.”

The four-year-old daughter of Big Jim advanced first-over before taking command by the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4, then powered home in 28.1 for a track-record 1:52 victory. The mile lowered her own Charlottetown track record for aged pacing mares of 1:52.1, set Sept. 17, by one-fifth of a second and is also a new Atlantic Canadian racing standard for distaffers. Brokeandoutofgas (Gilles Barrieau) was second with Windemere Saddy (Murphy) third.

LADY CAFE AU LAIT REPLAY

Campbell had six driving victories on the evening, including Steady Heart ($4.10) in the $12,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series Grassroots Final for pacing mares, presented by Red Shores. The Bo Ford trainee prevailed by a neck in 1:55.4 over Freaky Fanny (Darren Crowe), with Promise Me Later (Paul Langille) third. Ford shares ownership with Arnold Myers, Luke Beck and Scott Bridges.

Howmac Exclusive ($19.20) rallied to win the $12,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series Grassroots Final for pacing horses, presented by Red Shores, in race 11. MacPherson drove the Leith Waite trainee to a half-length victory in 1:54.4 for owners Leith Waite, Leslie Waite and James Gorman. Good Omen (Langille) was second with Bettim Alive (Jaycob Sweet) third.

Fight Song ($3.20) controlled the $16,000 Island Oceans Trot Series Final, presented by Burkie By The Bay Stables, in race 7. Jason Hughes sent the Ashley Gamester trainee through splits of 28.4, 58.2 and 1:27 before drawing clear by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:55.4. Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge owns the seven-year-old son of Kadabra. West River Jet (Kenny Arsenault) was second ahead of Flemsteen (Murphy).

Badgirl Bridgette ($2.50) captured the $20,000 Aged Pacing Mares Series Consolation in race 6 with Campbell driving for trainer-owner Bill Lanigan of Montague. The Stonebridge Terror mare led throughout to win by half a length in 1:53.3 over Miss Dutton (Desroche), with Oh Ophelia (Barrieau) third.

Merigo Magic ($14) won the $20,000 P.E.I. Free-For-All Series Consolation in race 12 for trainer-driver Adam Merner. Owned by Mike May, Herman McQuaid and Derrick Cameron, the Tobago Cays gelding used a pocket trip to score in 1:52.4 by three-quarters of a length over Gigis Dream (Campbell). Fast Louie (Keith Legge) finished third.

Campbell also swept the $6,000 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series Grassroots consolations. Woodmere Kennedie ($4.30) won the mares division in race 4 in 1:56.1 for trainer Landon Campbell and owner Mike Pollard. Big Pond Cash ($3.50) took the horses division in race 9 in 1:56.1 for Watts and owners Matt Burke, David Burke, Ryan MacLeod and Everett MacLeod, giving Watts a training double.

Bentley ($2.50) was another part of Campbell’s six-win performance with a 1:57.2 victory in race 8 for trainer John Clarey and owner-breeder Mike Clarey.

Landon Campbell engineered the biggest upset of the evening with Hound On The Beach ($84.70), winning race 15 in 1:53.2 for owner Martin Roy of Sayabec, Que. The trainer-driver sent the gelding to the front and held a three-and-a-quarter-length advantage at the finish over One Wicked Man (Arsenault), with Phil My Beer (Marc Campbell) third. Landon Campbell had two training victories on the card.

Live racing continues Tuesday at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Summerside. For more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores