‘Trot Stake Thursday’ will continue this week, as the top trotters on the east coast of Canada are set to clash at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 12-dash Thursday card will get underway at 6:30 p.m. and will feature the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two- and three-year-old trotters.

The fastest three-year-old Maritime-bred trotter ever, Gettin Messi, is the heavy early favourite for a $5,700 sophomore P.E.I. Colt Stakes division (Race 7). Mike McGuigan will be back in the race bike behind the Len McGuigan trainee for owner Jamie Whalen of Avondale. An eight-time winner from 11 seasonal starts, Getting Messi will start from Post 5 on Thursday.

Ya Boy Bear is the heralded top choice in another three-year-old split (Race 5) for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Michael Bailey of Morell. The Post 6 starter was a winner his last time out in Lady Slipper stakes action at the CDP.

The third and final three-year-old P.E.I. Colt Stakes division (Race 9) will feature last year’s champion trotter, Mile Hill Willie, who will start from Post 2 and will be in search of the top prize in the $5,700 tilt. Gilles Barrieau will handle the driving duties for owner-trainer Paul Morrison of Cardigan.

The program also features a pair of two-year-old P.E.I Colt Stakes trot divisions (those horses will also be vying for the top eight spots in the Island Breeder’s series to make the end of year finals). The first race of the program carries a $7,700 purse in rookie P.E.I. Colt Stakes action, and newly minted Red Shores’ Charlottetown two-year-old trotting filly track record holder Incredible Hally is the early favourite from Post 2. Campbell trains and drives the daughter of Angus Hall for Island owners Calvin Larkin, Erika Bradley, Brian Fogarty and Herbie MacDonald.

Mack Truck will start with rail control in the other $7,700 division and has been installed as the early favourite for driver Barrieau, trainer Randy Van Meer, and owners Donna Van Meer of Bowmanville, Ont., and Lynda MacSwain of Kinkora.

The first P.E.I Colt Stakes races were held on September 19th, 1934 at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

For Thursday night 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.

(With files from Red Shores)