In what could serve as a precursor for next week’s The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer trials, some of the best pacers on the Eastern Seaboard will battle in the Preferred Pace on Saturday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 13-dash Saturday card has a 6:00 p.m. opening post time, with the $3,100 preferred pace carded as Race 12. Avatar J was the boss in his latest start for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Danny MacDonald and owners Dean Larkin of Edwards, Ont., and Jody Sanderson of Cornwall. The American Ideal pacer took a pocket ride to victory in 1:52.4 last week and will leave from post five on Saturday.

Governor’s Plate runner-up Time To Dance has post two for trainer-driver Marc Campbell after having not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Lindsay Construction Cup on July 18 at Truro. Screen Test is second choice from post three with Corey MacPherson in the driver’s seat, while Rose Run Quest will leave from post four with Brodie MacPhee picking up the catch drive from the Campbell stable. Rose Run Quest was out of action last week but will look to add to his seven top-three finishes in the field of six.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac is taking a hunch that Rose Run Quest could be the one to knock off. “Rose Run Quest has an uncharacteristically low winning percentage but at the same time, a perfect top three record,” MacIsaac said. “Since the week off could be just what the doctor ordered he might be sitting on a big one.”

Completing the field are Soccer Hanover (Adam Merner) and Lisburn (Kenny Arsenault).

The $2,800 Preferred 2 Pace is carded as the eighth race. Freddy Bear drops out of the preferred ranks and gets his trainer, Campbell, in the bike for the first time from the outside post in the field of six. Other top entries are Ashes To Ashes (Barrieau) and Jeb (Jason Hughes).

For race programs, live video and more check out Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.

To view the entries for Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.

(Red Shores)