Biding her time
Woodmere Skyroller makes move late to win in Charlottetown
Taking a textbook two-hole ride, Woodmere Skyroller surged forward to capture the fillies and mares open pace Saturday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The Atlantic champion pacing mare sat in the twohole in her $2,900 assignment while watching pacesetter Woodmere Chella (Corey MacPherson) go through splits of 29.1, 1:00.1 and 1:30. Gilles Barrieau then pointed Woodmere Skyroller out of her two-hole ride in the stretch drive to win by a length in 1:59. The fouryear-old daughter of Rollwithitharry is trained by Kevin MacLean for Reg MacPherson of Stratford.
Woodmere Chella was second while Filly Forty Seven (Jason Hughes) was third.
Screen Test prevailed in the Race 13 pacing feature with a hard first-over brush to strike the lead in the final panel and will by half a length in 1:57 over Revenant (Adam Merner) and Winter Blast (Ken Murphy). MacPherson drives the Ron Gass-trained Screen Test for the Kickin Horse Stable of York and William Andrew of Calgary.
Merner scored three wins on the program, including Miss Sangria (1:59.3) and Gringo Star (2:00.4) from his own barn.
Merner’s other victory was with the Kevin Peterstrained Outrageous Spirit in 2:02.1.
David Dowling made three trips to the winner’s circle with Paythelinebluechip (2:02.1) from the Jay Noye barn, Babbling (2:04.1) in his Island debut for brother Mike Dowling and Mantario (2:01) for trainer Jenn Doyle.
In line to Barrieau, Pacific Delight was victorious in the Race 5 chef of the year – Andrew Smith pace, stopping the clock in 2:02.1 over the sloppy surface.
Total wager was $114,020. Live racing continues Saturday, Jan. 16, at 12:30 p.m.