Exceptional seasons

Magical Mistress, Sock It Away complete undefeated seasons

The past week in Island racing spelled the end for the 2018 stakes season as well as the final card of racing at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway until May.

The Island Breeders Finals on Saturday afternoon at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP) were the last stakes events of the year in Atlantic Canadian racing and they finished with a complete rarity as two horses were undefeated on the year.

Magical Mistress has been exceptional at every point in her two-year-old season with 12 wins from as many starts along with $71,280 in earnings for trainer Stephen Gass, driver Adam Merner and owner Barry Martin of Sydney, N.S. A daughter of Camystic, her dam, Meridian Magic, was also a record holder with 26 straight wins but never was undefeated in a whole season as she lost her first three races at two and had her streak ended in October of her three-year-old season.

Sock It Away also finished the year a perfect 16-for-16 for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. The son of Pang Shui slugged it out in the stretch in his Island Breeders final, winning by inches over Woodmere Ideal Art in 1:55.1. There is a real possibility both those pacing colts could be back for the invitational circuit in 2019.

The CDP now shifts to a Saturday-Sunday schedule for the next three weeks then once a week on Saturdays after that until the end of January.

P.E.I. Scene

Congratulations to Red Shores

race secretary and starter Gerard Smith on his upcoming induction into the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame. Smith, who is being inducted for his achievements in the sports of baseball and hockey, has been a lifelong member of the harness racing community and has served as the race secretary at the Summerside Raceway for more than 45 years. The Summerside resident has also served as race secretary for the CDP since 2005.

Another well-deserved honour will be going out to the late Allan Ling, who passed away in April. Ling, who was a longtime staple as an employee in the test

booth at the CDP, will be inducted posthumously into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame for his achievements from his Wheatley River farm.

Wishes for a quick recovery go out to Stratford trainer-driver Kenneth Wilkie who has been battling health issues recently.

A pair of Island trainers are heading to Ontario for the winter months as Jeff Lilley of Milton and Terry Gallant of Summerside are both packing up their stables and going to central Canada. Lilley is reported to be taking Woodmere Finesse and Bettim Jackie while Gallant has a number of horses to go, including invitational star Euchred and Maritime champion Windemeredontuworry.

New Brunswick trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau has also left P.E.I., returning home to Saint John, N.B., with his stable for the winter, after a very successful campaign from his Mount Herbert base.

Who’s Hot

Once Sailor Blue got a taste of victory she did not to stop winning, including a 14-length romp in her latest outing. That win streak now extends to three straight for the daughter of Ambro Barrister, who previously went 15 lifetime starts without hitting the winner’s circle. Owned by Cindy MacDonald and Yossi Martonovich of Montague, Sailor Blue is selected for the top spot again Saturday afternoon at the CDP.

Nicholas Oakes’ column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at nicholasoakes@hotmail.com.