Fresh off a victory in his final year of racing, the veteran Painted Pony will attempt to sweep the Joe MacRae Memorial Fall Series final, presented by MacRae Backhoe and Trucking, on the Sunday afternoon (Nov. 12) program at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The stacked program has 16 dashes starting at 12:30 p.m. with Painted Pony leaving from post five in the race 11 feature, the MacRae Memorial final, for driver Marc Campbell and owner/trainer Raymond White. The 14-year-old won his $3,000 MacRae preliminary leg in 1:59.2 for his 47th lifetime victory and now takes aim at the $4,500 final on Sunday. A former $1,000 yearling purchase who has earned more than $75,000 lifetime, Painted Pony is facing down mandatory retirement after Dec. 31 when he turns 15.
A 1:58.4 preliminary leg winner, West Coast Kid is the morning line favourite in the dash with David Dowling driving for trainer Phil Kelly from post three. Lock Her Up was also a winner in her preliminary leg and has post two for trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault.
The "Post Time Picks" has selected Painted Pony in the win position: “Painted Pony zipped off the wings last week and led at every call scoring in 1:59.2. He gets the same track, same post, same driver and the same result in the Joe MacRae Memorial Fall Series final.”
Race 15 is the $3,800 Preferred Pace. Fern Hill General is favoured in the event from post two for driver Arsenault, trainer Tom Weatherbie and owners Peter Smith of Stratford, P.E.I. and Gerald Morrissey of Charlottetown. Also in the field are Phil Dorleans (Jason Hughes), Mantario (Dowling), Rollwithhottytoddy (Myles Heffernan Sr.), Stash It Away (Ken Murphy) and Island Beach Boy (Brodie MacPhee).
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)