July 12, 2019
Dowling Continues March To Basil Whelan Award
By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
SUMMERSIDE, PE – With a three-bagger on the Friday evening program driver David Dowling continued his grip on the driver’s standings at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway and his lead in the Basil Whelan Memorial award for leading driver of Governor’s Plate week.
The Warren Grove driver started the action off winning a $2,500 Atlantic Sires Stakes B-division for three-year-old pacing fillies with After The Lovin for trainer Earl Watts in 2:00.4. The Devils Cut supplied Dowling’s second win in 2:04 in another $2,500 B-split for trainer Chris MacKay of French River. Ramset used first-over tactics to win a $1,500 overnight event in 1:58.1 for trainer Elton Millar of Tyne Valley to give Dowling win number three.
The Whelan Memorial standings will be settled during Saturday evening’s 16-dash Governor’s Plate program.
In other Atlantic Sires Stakes action for sophomore fillies, Elm Grove Nellie was placed the winner in an eventful $12,700 A-division with Dale Spence in the bike for trainer Joe Baxter and owners Jennifer Baxter of Falmouth and Gregory Francis of Windsor, N.S. Cheeky Cherry (Driven by Clare MacDonald) was the winner by two-lengths in 1:58.3 but was placed back to fifth for interference. When the dust settled on the judge’s inquiries, Elm Grove Nellie was placed to the winning spot with a corrected mile time of 1:59. Howmac Sabrina (Dowling) was placed to second with Unapologetically (Marc Campbell) put to third to complete the triactor.
Arc Light found the winner’s circle in the second $12,700 A-division for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Grayland Farm of Pugwash, N.S. Woodmere Oleksiak (Dowling) saw her win streak snapped to finish second while Therealdeal (Walter Cheverie) finished third in the 1:57.3 mile.
The other Atlantic Sires Stakes B-division saw Dustylanebukinfuty win in 2:00 with Corey MacPherson driving for trainer Stephen Gass of Cornwall.
Mando Fun won the race 12 Medastar Memorial in 1:57.1 with Campbell driving for trainer Paul Biggar of Tyne Valley.
Goodmorning Ky scored a mild upset in the Bud Ramsay Memorial pace stopping the clock in 1:59.3 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Franks Banks of Summerside.
Go to www.Redshores.ca for race replays and more.
(Red Shores)