Forever Paradise hangs on to win Red Shores top class

Charlottetown, PE – Forever Paradise, under the command of harness racing driver Mike McGuigan, held off a fast closing DGS Camme (Gilles Barrieau) to win the Saturday night feature in a sparkling 1:56.3.

McGuigan hustled Forever Paradise, owned by Reg MacPherson, David and Aaron MacKenzie, off the gate from post 6 and cruised through fractions of 28, 58.3 and 1:27.2. Warrawee Phoenix (Mark Bradley) and First Art Down (Ken Murphy) finished third in the dead-heat.

The evening showcased the Maritime Breeders eliminations and it was the Barrieau, Mason and Downey team of New Brunswick that took two divisions of the three-year colts. Jackson K Down went gate to wire in 1:56.3 while stable-star KD Overdrive had to make a sweeping move down the backstretch to earn a berth in the final. The time of the mile was 1:57.1. Heart and Soul won his colt stakes assignment for Clare MacDonald in 1:57.3.

The filly eliminations went to Glory Jean for driver Mark Bradley, trainer Tom Weatherbie and owner Blair Hansen, Charlottetown. The time of the mile was 1:58.1 while Howmacscanasta rallied from a slow start to take top honours to give Barrieau a driving triple on the program.

In other action, Ramblinglily (Walter Cheverie) captured the open mares class in 1:56 flat but the biggest mile of the night went to OK Galahad in a dazzling 1:54.4. Jason Hughes, who posted a driving double, was in the bike for Robi Hughes, Stratford, PE and Foxyhall Racing, Summerside, PE.

Trevor Hicken recorded a training double with Bazillion and Burkes Bandit.

For complete results go to www.redshores.ca

Lee Drake