Woodmere Rock It rolls to seven straight

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Woodmere Rock It (Tobago Cays) delivered another commanding harness racing performance to remain undefeated in seven career starts Sunday afternoon in the Joe O’Brien Memorial stake at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

The two-year-old son of Tobago Cays made a brief break in the middle of the first turn in the lone $27,760 O’Brien Memorial Gold division in race 11 but quickly recovered and powered to the lead for driver Adam Merner. Woodmere Rock It controlled fractions of 28.1, 58.1 and 1:28 before sprinting home in 28 seconds to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:56 flat.

The Jamie Smith-trained Woodmere Rock It ($2.10) is owned by TheStable Woodmere Rock It of Guelph, Ont. Malicious Benny (Marc Campbell) finished second with Woodmere Fergus (Jason Hughes) completing the triactor.

Campbell dominated the program with six driving victories, including both $27,120 Lady Slipper Stakes Gold divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies from the Earl Watts stable.

Sheeowtime Speed ($3.20) captured the first Gold split in race 2 with a first-over advance before closing home in 29 seconds to win in 1:58 flat. Howmac Lula (Gilles Barrieau) was second with front stepper Isle Impress You (Ken Murphy) third. The winning Somewhere Fancy filly is owned by Windemere Farms of Springvale and Matt and David Burke of Stratford.

Starship Daisy ($2.20) prevailed in the other Lady Slipper Gold division in race 7. Campbell and the Watts trainee sat second and took command in the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:58.4. Redland Equinox (Kenny Arsenault) finished second over Nauti Beach (Murphy). Francis Poirier of Havre-Aux-Maisons, Que., owns the winning daughter of Somewhere Fancy.

Watts and Campbell also teamed for victories with Ryder Roo ($2.60) in a $13,880 Joe O’Brien Memorial Grassroots division in 1:57.4 and Ys Fancy Speed ($2.10) in a $13,560 Lady Slipper Grassroots split in 1:59.4.

Campbell’s other victories came in $13,3800 O’Brien Memorial Grassroots divisions aboard Wilson Cassidy ($3.80) for trainer Kevin Bailey in 1:58.3 and Grampiesdirtyjokes ($2.10) for trainer Landon Campbell in 1:59.4.

Irish Rover ($33.80) supplied the upset of the afternoon in the opening Joe O’Brien Memorial Grassroots division. Trainer-driver Monica Sutherland moved the 15-1 shot first-over and prevailed in 2:01 over Woodmere Archie (Murphy) and Pour Me Another (Hughes).

Southdale Jeff ($2.60) was a front-end winner in another Joe O’Brien Grassroots division for trainer-driver Merner. The Rollwithitharry colt stopped the clock in 1:58.1.

Redland Abby ($6.20) and Hughes controlled every fraction of their Lady Slipper Grassroots division before winning by four-and-three-quarter lengths in 2:00.2. Stephen Quinn trains the Pang Shui filly.

Cafe De Flore ($2.90) captured another Lady Slipper Grassroots division in 1:58.4 for driver Murphy and trainer Saul Lanigan.

Dancin Lady Lou ($6.90) closed out the 12-dash presentation with a 2:00 victory for the daughter of Dancin Lou for trainer-driver Mike McGuigan in the final $13,560 Lady Slipper Grassroots division.

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

To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Summerside Raceway.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores