With a drop in class out of the Open mares ranks, Collective Wisdom has been heralded as the one to beat in the Thursday evening (Aug. 22) top event at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 10-dash Thursday card will get underway at 6:30 p.m. Collective Wisdom has been installed as the early favourite for Race 9, which carries a purse of $2,300. Jackie Matheson trains the daughter of American Ideal for owner Woodmere Farms of Marshfield. Gilles Barrieau will handle the driving duties.

Miss Sangria will start from Post 3 and will have Corey MacPherson filling in in the driver’s seat for trainer Melissa Rennie. Drivingthedragon N (to be driven by Jason Hughes) will start from Post 7, fresh off a second-place finish in 1:57.4.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac has gone with the class dropper for his top pick.

“Collective Wisdom is reunited with Gilles, gets a much better post than her last two, and exits the open mares,” MacIsaac said. “Add all those positives together and she's the one to knock off.”

The field will also feature Jens Credit (Ryan Perrot), Imagine Speed (Ken Murphy), Julep Hanover (Wade Myers) and Dancers Pass (David Dowling).

The Accreon PEI Pace has been programmed as Race 7. Hurricane Hill has been favoured early from Post 8 and will be coming in fresh off of a win in 1:58.1. MacPherson will be in the race bike for owner-trainer Joe MacDonald of Breadalbane.

The top trot of the night will line up for Race 6. Buckaroo is the morning line favourite and will start from Post 5 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owners Larry and Kathy Chappell of Marshfield. A winner in 2:01.3 during Old Home Week racing, Buckaroo will face off with five challengers in his Thursday evening assignment.

For race programs, live video and more, head to redshores.ca.

To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.

(Red Shores)