The busiest 10 days in Canadian harness racing will kick off Thursday evening at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park, as the capital oval prepares for Old Home Week racing.
First-race post time for the 12-dash card is 7 p.m. The program will feature the first leg of the Alpine $5,000 claiming series, which will be raced in divisions in Races 7 and 11.
Come On Eileen is favoured in the first $1,750 Alpine split. Kenny Arsenault is scheduled to be in the bike for owner-trainer Trevor Hicken of Montague. The four-year-old daughter of Sportswriter was a winner in 1:57.4 in her latest outing and will face seven rivals on Thursday, including My Ideal Hanover (to be driven by Gilles Barrieau) and Scarlet Safari (Marc Campbell).
Macnamarra (Gilles Barrieau) is the early favourite in the second division the second division. Macnamarra is owned by trainer Walter Walker of Inverness, NS.
The $1,850 Open Trot will take the spotlight in Race 10. Post 7 and 8 belong to Osprey Impact (Walter Cheverie) and Freddie (Campbell), respectively. Murmur Hanover has landed on P.E.I. and will start from Post 6 in his Island debut. Murmur Hanover will be driven by Jason Hughes for conditioner Jennifer Trainor and owner Danny Birt of Stratford. The classy Majestic Son seven-year-old has recorded 18 lifetime victories, banked $734,099, and is battle-tested, as he has raced on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit in Ontario. Murmur Hanover trotted in 1:55.1 in his latest outing.
Race 9 is sponsored by Macpherson Roche Smith Chartered Professional Accountants and Management Advisors. Jinglewriter has got the nod as the morning line choice. Adam Merner will perform the driving duties for trainer Ron Gass and owner Alex MacPhee of Clyde River.
Jayport Sport will ship to P.E.I. for Old Home Week action in Race 5. He is trained and driven by Danny O’Brian and is owned by Everette Hanson of Maugerville, NB. The Post 4 starter had been racing at Georgian Downs in Ontario for O’Brian, formerly of New Brunswick.
To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)