It has been a season-long slugfest of racing in Atlantic Sires Stakes events across the East Coast, but now it all comes down to the Breeders Crown Sunday afternoon (October 9).
Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park will play host to the six Atlantic Breeders Crown finals with the 15-dash card starting at 12:30 p.m.
The first final of the championship card is slated as race five with Wicked Nick the morning line choice in the $9,000 Meridian Farms - Atlantic Breeder's Crown two-year-old trot final for trainer/driver Gary Chappell and P.E.I. owners Peter Buchanan of North Wiltshire and Cameron Trail of O'Leary.
Mr Bower is selected in the $9,000 race seven Meridian Farms - Atlantic Breeder's Crown three-year-old trot final with trainer Kenny Arsenault in the driver's seat for owner Wade Peconi of Stanchel, P.E.I.
The two-year-old pacing fillies will battle in the race nine $22,000 Atlantic Breeder's Crown final with Elektra Express searching to keep her near perfect record with Nova Scotia's Ryan Ellis picking up the catch drive on the homebred filly owned by his wife Danica. Marc Campbell trains Elektra Express and was her regular pilot before electing to drive Filly Forty Seven in Sunday's final.
Race 11 has the two-year-old pacing colts with Tobinator looking to give trainer Trevor Hicken his first $22,000 Atlantic Breeder's Crown final win with Corey MacPherson driving for Island owners Robin and Luke Burke and Kent Livingston, along with Perry Burke of Quebec.
Howmacfiesty is the classifier's choice in the race 13 three-year-old pacing filly Atlantic Breeder's Crown final for trainer/driver Danny Romo and owner Thomas Hawco of Nova Scotia.
Beaus Cowboy rides a three-race win steak into the race 15 Atlantic Breeder's Crown three-year-old pacing colt final with Adam Merner at the lines in the $22,000 event for trainer Ron Gass, who has three horses in the eight race final, and owner Alex MacPhee of Clyde River, P.E.I.
A field of Invitational pacers will also line up in race 14 on the card with D Gs Camme shouldered with post seven in the field of as many for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Jackie Matheson and Charlottetown owners Tom Clark, Ron Matheson and Quentin and Hal Bevan.
Champion Filly Headlines Consolations
Woodmere Finesse stamped herself as the fastest Maritime-bred free-legged two-year-old to ever grace the East Coast in stakes action last month in Charlottetown, but failed to garner enough points throughout the season to make the elusive Atlantic Breeder's Crown final.
The Maritime champion will definitely be the one to beat in Atlantic Breeder's Crown consolation action Saturday afternoon (October 8) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The daughter of Articulator has post one in race six on the card, with race one action getting underway at 12:30 p.m. for the 13-dash program. Woodmere Finesse will have the services of Kenny Arsenault at the lines in the $5,000 two-year-old pacing filly consolation for trainer Jack Arsenault and owner Edward Maher of Nova Scotia.
The two-year-old pacing colt consolation lines up in race eighth with Island Energetic favoured from post seven for trainer/driver Danny Romo and The Estate Of Brian Burgess.
Dustlanemissmolly has new connections and will be labelled the favourite in race 10 in three-year-old pacing filly Atlantic Breeder's Crown consolation. Marc Campbell drives the filly for new owner/trainer Jennifer Trainor of Earnescliffe, P.E.I.
The final consolation of the day lines up in race 12 with three-year-old pacing colt divisional heavyweights JJ Jodster (Campbell) and KD Overdrive (Gilles Barrieau) going toe-to-toe.
To view the harness racing entries for Atlantic Breeders Crown weekend, click here.
(With files from Red Shores)