Astor will look to continue his dominance of the top class at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park Friday afternoon during the special Boxing Day card of racing.

First race post time is 1 p.m. for the 15-dash event.

Astor has been handed Post 7 in the Race 9 feature for a $2,200 purse for trainer-driver Jason Hughes and owner Foxyhall Racing of Wallace, N.S. The five-year-old son of Camluck has great form including a 1:59.4 victory last week in this same class, while earlier on he had been competing with All Turain and Big Surf, who have both been put away for the 2014 season.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac thinks Astor is the way to go in the Charlottetown feature.

“He was a popular winner last week and tackles many of the same foes in here,” MacIsaac said. “He did it from the outside in that one and we don't see any reason he can't double up today.”

The race also includes Tempo Seelster (Vincent Poulton), Eagle Jolt (Marc Campbell), The Big Bite (Corey MacPherson), Carnivore (Walter Cheverie), Machinthesand (Gary Chappell) and Cheyenne Ford (Kenny Arsenault).

The top trotters will compete in Race 5 for a $1,500 purse with Abundaspin headlining the field of six from Post 4 for driver Steven Shepherd, trainer Harold Shepherd and owner Mikaela Lustic of Warren Grove. The 14-year-old son of Abundance is nearing his final career start unless the racing commission grants him the ability to race at age 15.

Other entries include Honeymoonisover (Mark Bradley), I Aint No Lady (Brian MacPhee), Diamond Mine (MacPherson), Caliban Hanover (Ron Gass) and JK Queen (Cheverie).

The back-up pace lines up in race 14 for a $1,800 with Perfect Escape favoured off the rail for driver Ron Matheson, trainer Jackie Matheson and owners Jack Keenan of Stratford and Joseph Dahl of Ontario. His main competition will come from stablemate Oakrock Almighty (Gordie Hennessey) as well as Forever Paradise (Campbell) and Tyron My Gigolo (MacPherson).

The race for leading driver of the 2014 season is winding down with Campbell holding a four-race advantage over Hughes. The final card of 2014 will be held on Dec. 31 at 7 p.m., followed by Saturday racing on January 3 for the remainder of that month.

(CDP)

To view entries for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.