Red Shores’ 2014 harness racing calendar gets underway Saturday with a 13-dash program at the Charlottetown Driving Park. First-race post time will be 1 p.m.

Pinner, owned by Kevin, Lillian and trainer Brian Ladner of Charlottetown, will be looking for his seventh win in a row in the afternoon’s top-class race (Race 12).

Marc Campbell will put the son of Mach Three into Post 5 against 3-1 shot Camcun (to be driven by Kenny Arsenault), while trainer Troy Murray of Clyde River has listed Brodie MacPhee to drive McJestic from the four hole. The five-year-old gelding, established at 7-2 odds on the morning line, has been racing sharp with four top-three finishes in his last five outings. If Campbell decides to deploy front-end tactics with Pinner, it could be over early.

The field is loaded with talent. McMaverick has drawn the rail for Ken Murphy and Doll R General (Mark McKinnon) will start from Post 2. Stayoutofmyaffair, (Gary Chappell), PC Shockwave (Brian MacPhee) and Campbest Kisser (Jason Hughes) will maneuver from the outside while Panacotta (Blaine Baglole) will start from Post 9 in the back tier.

In other action, Zip the Lip will attempt to re-establish his winning form in the Open Trot for trainer Don Sweet and his co-owner Orville Willis of O’Leary. The trotter was riding a winning streak when he made a break in his last start due to broken equipment, thus ending his victory run at four. Regular driver Brian MacPhee will handle the driving assignment. The race features some tough competitors with Open Trot specialist Abundaspin (Harold Shepherd) and Caliban Hanover (Ron Gass) gunning for their first score of the new campaign. This will be Abundaspin’s last year of racing after turning 14 on January 1. The line-up also includes Tender N Kind (Steven Shepherd), Buckling Banbury (Corey MacPherson), Honeymoonisover (Brian Andrew) and Who Took That (Michael McGuigan).

The trot challenge competition, presented by Johnston’s Salads and Keybrand Foods Inc, came to a close on New Year’s Eve. Walter Cheverie was crowned the winner with 173 points. Ron Gass was second with 160. Willie Murphy was third with 156 while Brian MacPhee moved into fourth with 152 points after his successful run with Zip the Lip put him into contention. The drivers are rated on a 10-7-5 point system with a 1-2-3 finish with trotters at Charlottetown. Cheverie will be presented with the hardware at the upcoming awards banquet by the PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association.

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

(Red Shores)