Three-year-olds strut their stuff

In Charlottetown on Monday afternoon

Leading the field at every call was the way to race Monday afternoon in Atlantic Sires Stakes’ action for three-yearold pacing colts as part of Old Home Week racing at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Island Energetic went to the top and battled back his opposition in his $12,180 Atlantic Sires Stakes’ three-yearold pacing colts A Division for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and Nova Scotia owners Grayland Farms of Pugwash and Bernadette Burgess of Dartmouth.

The three-year-old son of Articultaor used rail control to lay down fractions of 29.1, 57.4 and 1:27.1, before unleashing a 29.1 closing quarter to win in 1:56.2 over a hard-closing JJ Tanner (driven by Gilles Barrieau), with Name is on the halter (Adam Merner) finishing third.

The other $12,180 A Division had Mighty Cowboy deliver a minor upset in 1:55.2, with front-end fractions of 28.3, 57.1 and 1:25.4. Darren Crowe trains and drives the colt for owner David MacDonald of Halifax. Ashes To Ashes (Barrieau) was second, with Tobinator (Kenny Arsenault) completing the triactor.

Afternoon cards

The afternoon program was the last one for a few days as Old Home Week 2017 only has four afternoon cards this year, with the cancellation of Thursday afternoon announced previously.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only have evening cards this year, with 7 p.m. start times, while the last two doubleheaders of the week are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Issues with the horse population, combined with tougher and faster racing, have made many horse owners opt to not race their charges as many times as they have in the past, forcing management to consolidate race cards.

Not having a Tuesday afternoon card was a change made for the 2016 season, and a program has not been held on Wednesday afternoon of Old Home Week since 2005.