Nicholas Oakes
A fact that Adam Merner knows is that a driver is only as good as the horse they sit behind.
Merner expects that fact to make his job easier Thursday in Atlantic Sires Stakes action at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park with a 7 p.m. first race post time.
The Charlottetown resident will drive the undefeated Magical Mistress in a $12,580 Atlantic Sires Stakes A-division for two-year-old pacing fillies. The rookie split is carded as Race 10 on the 11-dash card with Magicial Mistress and Merner leaving from the grandstand side in the field of six.
Stephen Gass trains the daughter of Camystic for owner Barry Martin. Magical Mistress had an undefeated mother in her own right as Meridian Magic went on a winning streak of 26 straight races in 2009-2010.
Magicial Mistress is installed as the favourite in her Thursday competition.
“She’s a sweetheart, just a wicked nice filly,” Merner said. “She’s done everything right from day one. She had a little issue with shadows early on but we put the Pelling Pacifier on her and she’s been straight ahead.”
The real deal has been catching the eye of racing fans and participants alike and the undefeated Joe Baxter trainee will race in the other A-division in Race 8 Thursday evening.
Merner eagerly anticipates that matchup as they have yet to meet each other in their careers.
“It’ll be interesting when we do race against each other.”
Merner says Magical Mistress has shown she can be raced virtually any way in her four wins so far in her rookie season.
“She’s flawless gaited and smart. She’s the kind that everyone wants to drive. Her mom was a great mare and has made a great broodmare.”
The Port Morien, N.S., native has been racing on Prince Edward Island since moving here in 2014 and now lives in Charlottetown with girlfriend Melissa Rennie and son Jaxon.
“It’s awesome,” Merner said of being on P.E.I. for Old Home Week. “I have a great stable of horses and great help. My family is over here this week and the horses are racing good. Plus, my little fella is getting his picture taken some. It just doesn’t get any better.”