Officials from Red Shores have sent out the organization’s preview for this weekend’s live harness racing action at Summerside Raceway and the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Atlantic Regional Driving Championship set for Summerside; Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares also on the card

The stage is set for the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship, presented by RDMD Refrigeration Saturday at Red Shores’ Summerside. First-race post time is 6:30 p.m. The card will feature two divisions of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares, sponsored by Standardbred Canada.

The top drivers in Atlantic Canada will compete in nine races with the top two finishers, based on points, moving to the National Driving Championship, which will take place on August 26 in Charlottetown. ‘Team PEI’ will be represented by Marc Campbell, Jason Hughes and Brodie MacPhee. New Brunswick has Todd Trites and Gilles Barrieau, while Nova Scotia has Ryan Campbell, Darren Crowe and Ryan Ellis. Newfoundland and Labrador will be represented by Kevin Dillon.

Red Shores’ racing analysts Les MacIsaac and Jared Stretch have compiled a special edition of drivers’ picks for the contest. The ‘I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club’s Pick 9 handicapping contest is underway.

MacIsaac, CDP’s analyst, has provided a summary of the event, and his top choice is Marc Campbell. “He might as well add winning this to his list of accomplishments, a list that gets longer all the time,” said MacIsaac. “It includes winning last year's Gold Cup and Saucer in track-record time, and, just for good measure, setting a new trotting record on the same card. He has a couple of excellent shots Saturday which could see him go back to back in races four and five with Ultimate Labamba and Rash B Havior.

“The key to the competition is a good start and to avoid as many seventh and eighth-place finishes as possible. There are lots of points out there with seconds, thirds and fourths, so you don't have to win them all.”

Ryan Ellis and Darren Crowe round out MacIsaac’s top three.

Summerside analyst Jared Stretch has also put Campbell at the top of the competition. “The reigning Gold Cup driver and O'Brien Award winner will look to add this driving championship to his resume, and if my selections hold true, he would not only pick up wins in Race 3, 5 and 8, but really should be able to pick up a good number of secondary points that would put distance on his rivals.”

The Prince County handicapper has Gilles Barrieau of New Brunswick second and Team PEI’s Brodie MacPhee third.

“This draw worked out well for Brodie, as he's got several horses that suit his style to a tee and a few others that he knows quite well and could certainly pull off an upset or two,” MacIsaac said. “In my selections, I have him taking Race 6 and 7, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him come away with three wins on the day.”

Bunny Mach has been established as the 5-2 morning line favourite in the first leg of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series for driver Jason Hughes. The nine-year-old mare is coming off a seven-length 1:59.4 victory on June 19. Donald and Steven MacRae own Bunny Mach, who will start from Post 3. Ramblinglily (to be driven by Brodie MacPhee) and Veronicavermillion (Brian MacPhee) are also listed as triactor candidates. Mattadors Rose, Prynne Hanover and Silky Britches complete the field.

General Luckypercy is favoured to win the second race of the series (Race 12). The Jackie Matheson trainee will make her sixth start of the season from Post 2 in the $3,378 event. Gilles Barrieau will catch-drive for owners Jodi Lynn Matheson of Charlottetown and Jack Brown of Stratford. The all-star line-up has Andro Madi, who has been super sharp in her last few starts for driver Dale Spence and trainer Jonah Moase. Moase will also send out Dirt Track Momma for Marc Campbell. Stayoutofmyaffair has the rail, while Brodys Leona (PP5) and Dreaming (PP6) will start further down the wings.

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Summerside, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Summerside Raceway.

Red Shores Charlottetown presents special Sunday card; Say It Again Sam on winning streak

Red Shores will present a special Sunday program at the legendary CDP oval. First-race post time will be 1 p.m.

Say It Again Sam has been perfect since arriving on PEI and has posted five wins in a row for trainer-driver Jason Hughes and Foxyhall Racing of Summerside. The three-year-old son of Well Said will start from the rail in Race 7 after having charted a two-and-half-length score in his last outing in 1:56.4, which included a :28.4 closing panel. He will take on Leading Camdidate, Umiztagoodthing, Beckenbauer, Astor Shark and Jersey Joe.

The afternoon’s top class has Ultimate Luck installed as the morning line favourite, and for good reason. Last week, the Sifroi Melanson stable star toured Summerside in 1:54.3 under the command of Kenny Arsenault. Melanson has listed Ken Murphy to drive in the $2,200 showdown (Race 11).

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

(Red Shores)