The first leg of the inaugural Island Oceans Trot Classic, presented by JD Marine and Diving Inc., will take to the track Thursday evening (July 23) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 12-dash Thursday card has a 6 p.m. opening post time, and the $3,950 Island Ocean Trot Classic legs for aged trotting mares will line up for Race 2 and 4.

The first $3,950 division has Maritime champion Daisy River selected for the top spot. She is scheduled to line up in Post 2 with Jason Hughes in the bike for owner-trainer William Lanigan of Montague. Other top entries are Little Miss Winnie (to be driven by Kenny Arsenault) and Osprey Delta (Paul Larrabee).

Open trot contender Hop Up leads the way in the second division for driver Corey MacPherson and owner-trainer Keith Campbell of Victoria West. Setting Day, who just won her seasonal debut in 2:01, is scheduled to start from Post 3 for trainer-driver Mike McGuigan as second choice, while Whim Road Gem (Jack Panting) has been picked for third.

JD Marine and Diving Inc. co-owner Cam MacPhee is excited to be part of the new series, which is aimed at getting horse owners to invest in trotting mares on the east coast of Canada. The series will race additional legs on August 9 at Red Shores' Summerside Raceway, on September 3 in Charlottetown, September 27 at Summerside, followed by a final on October 11 as part of the Atlantic Breeder’s Crown program in Charlottetown.

MacPhee is a director of the newly formed PEI Standardbred Breeders Association, where the idea for the trotting mares’ series came about over the winter. Then, when the ink was dried and the sponsorship was offered to JD Marine and Diving, which MacPhee co-owns with Don Richards and Jamie Thompson, he jumped at the opportunity.

“It was a no-brainer for me,” MacPhee said. “It’s good for my business, but even better for our industry, and that is the ultimate priority for me. I hope this series has steady growth with bringing quality mares, and future broodmare prospects, to the region to grow the trot gait.”

Catch the action live on the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.

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

(Red Shores)