Denny Baxter couldn't pass up an opportunity to get back to the race track with his pal, Sammy. But they needed some help to make the trip to Prince Edward Island.
Off the pace was the recipe for success for Smart Official in the featured Boxing Day pace on Saturday afternoon at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Creepin (Driven by David Dowling) cut out the early fractions in the $2,500 feature over a sloppy track with splits of :29.1 and 1:00.3. That leader then came under siege by Sports Royalty (Gilles Barrieau) first on the outside with race favourite Smart Official and driver Jason Hughes following the flow second-over. The three-quarters was reached in 1:31.4 with the field tightening up in the final stanza as Smart Official found his way through to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:02. Sports Royalty was second with Creepin third.