The top trotters on Canada’s eastern seaboard will descend on Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park Thursday as PEI Colts Stakes action will highlight the card.

The 12-dash program has a 7:00 p.m. start time and will feature three divisions for three-year-old trotters in Race 4, 7 and 9.

Taliesin will look to get his sixth win in a row in Race 4 with a new trainer and driver, as Mark McKinnon has taken over the duties from Marc Campbell. Buntainwood Farm of Brackley Beach owns the three-year-old son of Northern Bailey, who is yet to be defeated in 2013. His main competition in the five-horse field looks to come from Northern Dust (to be driven by Corey MacPherson) and I Aint No Lady (Garth Cole).

The $4,200 division in Race 7 has six entries. Rash Statement (Walter Cheverie) has drawn the rail against top challengers West River Excel (Clare MacDonald) and Howmacs Pride (Brian MacPhee).

Race 9 will see a clash between last year’s champion trotter Oceanview Kate (Mike Stevenson), Irish Lullaby (Danny MacDonald) and Ashotinthedark (Joey Pineau).

The $4,100 two-year-old divisions will line up in Race 1, 3 and 5. BJ Comanche is favoured in Race 1 for driver Clare MacDonald and owner-trainer Bert Honkoop of Montague. His morning line competition is Bo Digger (McKinnon) and IC Caviar (Pineau).

Top entries in race 3 include Phantom Beau (Kenny Arsenault), Scarlet Macdream (Darryl MacLean) and Glencove Yoshi (Stevenson).

Divisional leader Dusty Lane Galaxy headlines Race 5 as he rides a five-race win streak for driver Gary Chappell, trainer Stacey Lund and owners Peter Buchanan and the estate of George Boswall. Other top competition includes Oceanview Rose (Stevenson) and Saulsbrook Pippa (Pineau).

The $1,800 Open trot will line up for Race 8 with Abundaspin having drawn the rail for trainer-driver Harold Shepherd and owner Mikaela Lustic of Warren Grove. The 13-year-old trotter was a winner his last two starts in this class, but will have to fend off Honeymoonisover (Brian Andrew) and Saulsbrook Balance (Willie Murphy).

The feature pace is in Race 11 with a field of seven competing for a purse of $1,900. J V S Ring is the early favourite from Post 6 for catch-driver Brian MacPhee, trainer Jackie Matheson and owners Joey Gallant of Charlottetown and Mike Pollard of Stratford. The Cammibest six-year-old has won five of his last six starts. Other entries are Van Zant (Ron Matheson), Doll R General (McKinnon), Roscoes Child (John Holmes), Oakrock Almighty (Walter Cheverie), Rymar Sporty (Ken Murphy), and Blue Star Outlaw (Jason Hughes).

Live racing continues Saturday in Charlottetown with a double header card which will feature the pacing events of the PEI Colts Stakes with programs at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway has a card Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. featuring the Atlantic Aged Mares Pacing Series.

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

(Red Shores)