A tight-knit field of seven pacers will contest the Saturday evening (July 7) top class at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park, while Governor’s Plate elimination action headlines Sunday afternoon’s (July 8) card at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway.

The 10-dash Saturday program at Charlottetown kicks off at 6 p.m., with the featured pacers lining up in race nine for a $2,200 purse. Elm Grove Kaboom and trainer-driver Marc Campbell are the morning line choice from post 3 for owners Larry and Kathy Chappell. Perfect Escape comes into the race with a 1:55.3 victory in his latest charted line with Gilles Barrieau back in the bike for trainer Jackie Matheson leaving from post 6.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac is going with Elm Grove Kaboom for the top spot.

“Elm Grove Kaboom might be risky at a short price, given the fact that he's only delivered 40 per cent of the time as the chalk this year,” MacIsaac said. “Having said that, he seems to be rounding into form and last years record should tell you what he's capable of when he's on his game. Top call.”

The field also includes Tempo Seelster (Vincent Poulton), Oh To Be Me (Gary Chappell), Narragansett (Jason Hughes), Stars Above (Steven Shepherd) and Red Magician (Corey MacPherson).

The $100,000 Dash For Cash continues on the Saturday program, with the promotion set for race 12 on the card. Two lucky patrons that spent $10 or more on one wager earlier on the card will have a chance to select the full order of finish in the eight-horse field and win the $100,000 grand prize. Mick Dundee is the favourite in the $1,700 event for owner-trainer-driver Donnie MacNeil. Big Surf makes his Island return in the event, drawing post 8 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Trevor Hicken. The son of Somebeachsomewhere was formerly a top contender in the free-for-all ranks in Atlantic Canada before being sold to U.S. interests. His latest start was at The Meadows in Pennsylvania and was subsequently reacquired by former owner Perry Burke.

Action shifts to Summerside on Sunday, where a 12-dash afternoon program has a 1:00 p.m. start time. A pair of $5,000 eliminations for the 50th edition of the Governor’s Plate, presented by Township Chevrolet Buick GMC, headline the card.

The first field of seven squares off in race 10 with Euchred favoured from post 4 for the combination of driver Adam Merner, trainer Terry Gallant and owner Kayla Kabicht. The six-year-old son of Shadow Play had his streak of top-two finishes snapped last week, as he finished fourth behind a blistering mile from In Spades.

Mr Irresistible rides a two-race win streak into the first elimination after a profitable last week on the mainland. The Jennifer Doyle trainee was a winner in 1:54.2 in the Preferred pace at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia for driver Jason Hughes, then came back three days later to win the $5,000 Walter Dale Invitational at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B.

Other entries in the first elimination include Zero Rate (Kenny Arsenault), Keep Coming (Corey MacPherson), Nogreatmischief (Walter Cheverie), Adkins Hanover (Ambyr Campbell) and Ashes To Ashes (Gilles Barrieau).

The second $5,000 Governor’s Plate elimination lines up in race 12, with defending champion Do Over Hanover leaving from post 1. Jason Hughes will drive for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Red Isle Racing, Donald MacRae and Allard Racing Inc.. The winner of $260,000 was a nosed-out second in his latest outing in 1:55.1.

In Spades will be the second elimination favourite, fresh off a 1:53.1 win at Red Shores Charlottetown for trainer-driver Austin Sorrie and owner Walter Simmons. The Bettors Delight gelding leaves from post 4.

Also in the field are Fast N Victorious (Merner), Czar Seelster (Arsenault), Give Em Heck (Barrieau), Tobinator (MacPherson) and Cartoon Daddy (Dale Spence).

Race 11 will feature another Governor’s Plate Decade of Champions race honouring the winners from 1991 to 2000. Offshore Cowboy is the favourite in the $1,700 class with Dale Spence in the bike for trainer Donnie Milligan.

For more information, including details on the ongoing $100,000 Dash For Cash, go to www.redshores.ca.

To view this weekend’s Red Shores entries, click the following links:
Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park
Saturday Entries – Summerside Raceway

(Red Shores)