Red Shores has two programs of racing all set for this weekend. The first card will entertain the crowd at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday, while the first live program of the year at Summerside Raceway will take place on the holiday Monday.

Showdown at Charlottetown on Saturday

The stage is set for five of the region’s top guns in the evening feature Saturday at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.

Post time for the 11-dash card is 6 p.m.

First Art Down (to be driven by Ken Murphy) has drawn the rail in the Race 7 showdown, which promises to be a triactor mystery with all the competitors capable of hitting the ticket. Big Surf (Marc Campbell) has been established as the morning line favorite (5-2) after his victorious seasonal debut last week over a ‘sloppy’ track. Weather conditions will be perfect at the 7:43 p.m. post time with many expecting to see the Trevor Hicken trainee bust the gate. He’ll have company. Forever Paradise (Michael McGugian) can follow the car while Clic K is back in the mix from the Jackie Matheson stable. Gilles Barrieau has the driving assignment. Tempo Seelster (Vince Poulton) will start from Post 3.

Best Risque is sharp. The nine-year-old mare, trained by Brian Ladner, Charlottetown, has won seven of her last eight starts and is favoured to win the open mares class. Regular pilot Corey MacPherson drives his trainee Brodys Leona (PP2), so Ladner was able to get the services of Campbell. Ramblinglily is back in town to compete in the $2,200 event. Walter Cheverie will guide her from Post 4. Sam (Jason Hughes) and Bettim Jenny (Jeff Lilley) make up the rest of the field.

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

New season underway Monday at Red Shores Summerside; Silverhill Shadow gets top call in afternoon feature

Summerside Raceway’s 2016 harness racing season will be launched Monday afternoon. The legendary Prince County oval celebrates 130 years of racing this season.

Post time for the card is 1 p.m.

Motorino will start from Post 1 for trainer-driver Terry Gallant in the Race 9 presentation. His stablemate, Silverhill Shadow, will start from one slot to the right for catch-driver Gary Chappell. The son of Shadow Play was scratched from his last race, but Gallant has him back in to go and shows an impressive 1:56.1 chart-line from May 7. The roster also includes Cambest Kisser (Jason Hughes), DBS Rosco (Kenny Arsenault) and Carnivore (Walter Cheverie).

Veteran campaigner Life Savior will lead the post parade in the back-up class (Race 12). A winner of $101,376 and closing in on his 60th lifetime victory, the 11-year-old will make his seasonal debut for trainer Duane MacEachern, owner Darla MacEachern and driver Corey MacPherson. He’s in tough with Ralph Sweet’s Casimir Luciano, Oh To Be Me and Bowyer Hanover listed as triactor candidates.

The official countdown to the Governor’s Plate starts Monday at 1 p.m. with fan prizes to the first 150 customers starting at noon.

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

(Red Shores)