The first card of the 2009 harness racing season will feature the Pick 7 to Las Vegas showdown, The George Murphy Memorial and eight starters in the $1,800 top class Saturday at the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre.
Post time is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the 14 dash card.
The horses will have the say in the outcome of the Pick 7 to Las Vegas showdown beginning on Race 6. Pictonian Pasadena, owned by Bill Bell of Murray River,PE has been established as the morning line favorite. Gary Chappell is in the bike. Bulldog Clark, under the command of Summerside's Rocky Schurman, gets the rail and could be a major factor in the opening leg of the competition along with Drew (pp6) for new owner Barbara Conway of Breadabalbane, PE. Bob MacInnis drives for trainer Pat Murphy. 52 players will need a winning play to stay alive in the promotion. You can review the top plays of racing analyst Les MacIssac and classifier Gerard Smith on Races 6-12 in the Pick 7 to Las Vegas at www.harnessracingpei.com.
Trainer Marc Campbell will send three entries from his stable in the George Murphy Memorial on Race 9. The young horseman has been given the conditioning duties on the horses from the Paul MacDonald stable. MacDonald, a well known driver-trainer passed away suddenly in December. The starters from the Campbell stable include Lincolns Legacy. The five-year-old gelding will be handled by Jason Hughes. They're listed as the favorite on the morning line. Zodiac Mac gets the services of Paul's son Danny from Post 5. Mac has been top three material in his last five races. He is now owned by Gerald Walsh of Stratford, PE. Island Zane is the other Campbell trainee. He will leave from Post 7 for driver Gary Chappell. Joshs Deal, owned by and trained by Patrick Sheppard of Charlottetown, PE has the ability to claim top prize for driver Harold Sheppard in the event too.
The afternoon feature will be introduced in the 13th race scheduled for post at 4:05 p.m. Yankee Sun, owned by the BM Stable of Grande-Digue, N.B., could get his first win of the 2009 campaign. The pacing star went to the gate 34 times in 2008 taking home $13,648, eight wins, eight seconds and three third place finishes. The driving park's leading driver in '08, Kenny Arsenault, will handle the assignment. The feature also stars Aria Aria, Gauloise Duharas, Futures Kwik, Best of Life, Tanks Alot, Porthill Alf and Negrito.
To view Saturday's entries, click here.
(Harness Racing PEI)