After suffering a flat tire in his latest start and having his win streak snapped at three, Rose Run Quest will get the number-two man from his stable in the racebike Saturday afternoon (Jan. 6) in the absence of regular pilot Marc Campbell at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 13-dash card hits the track at 12:30 p.m., with Rose Run Quest teaming up with the assistant trainer in the record-setting Campbell stable. Ryan Desroche will sub in for Campbell behind the post five starter in the ninth-race $2,400 preferred pace for owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown after Campbell finished second with the pacer on New Year’s Eve with a flat tire. The son of If I Can Dream has put together an impressive eight victories since joining the Campbell team during Old Home Week racing in August.
Other Saturday afternoon preferred pace starters include Drivingthedragon N, riding a three-race win streak for trainer-driver Jason Hughes but forced to race the boys this week, and the ultra-consistent Czar Seelster with Todd Weatherbee in the bike. The field is rounded out by Woggy Rocks (Gary Chappell) and Smiley Bayama (Adam Merner).
Desroche picks up a total of three drives from the Campbell stable on the Saturday afternoon program, as Campbell is competing in the North America Drivers Championship at Miami Valley Raceway in Ohio with all the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday action being shown at both Red Shores locations. Post time for each Miami Valley card is 3:05 p.m. Atlantic.
Desroche gets the call on Woodmere Articblue with rail control in race 10 from the powerful Campbell stable, as well as veteran pacer Eagle Jolt from post one in race 12 as the morning-line favourite.
Speaking of Desroche, the horse with whom the young driver scored his first career win will retire during the Saturday afternoon Red Shores card. Onehotvett will leave from post eight in the sixth race on the program for driver Wade Sorrie, trainer Austin Sorrie and owner Tammy Collings.
Force Seelster makes his East Coast pari-mutuel debut in race seven for new owner-trainer Clifford Murphy, with son Ken Murphy doing the driving. The six-year-old son of Stonebridge Regal boasts 13 lifetime wins and $45,000 in purse earnings along with a 1:56.3 record taken over Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ontario. The pacer had been racing in the claiming classes in Ontario before being acquired by his new connections.
For more information, including race programs and live video, go to www.redshores.ca.
(Red Shores)