A scrappy campaigner will close out his blue-collar career on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 3) during the 15-dash card at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Veteran pacer Painted Pony will make his final pari-mutuel start in the Happy Retirement Painted Pony Pace in Race 8. His career will go full circle as the driver who scored his first lifetime win, Mark Bradley, is back in the race bike for owner/trainer Raymond White of Belfast, P.E.I. The son of SS Sand Dollar was purchased by White for the $1,000 minimum bid at the 2010 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale and went on to score 47 lifetime wins from 307 lifetime starts, with his most recent win coming in an elimination of the Joe MacRae Memorial Series on Nov. 12. Marc Campbell was regular pilot for the pacer, as the Orwell, P.E.I. driver steered him to 32 of his victories for more than one per cent of the leading driver’s lifetime wins.
Mark Bradley gave the pacer his maiden record on May 19, 2012 and would drive him to five wins in his career. Austin Sorrie also drove the pacer to a trio of victories while the gritty pacer also visited the winner’s circle one time each for Jason Hughes, Kenny Arsenault, Adam Merner, Gary Chappell, Myles Heffernan Sr., and Corey MacPherson.
His Sunday retirement race has a field of seven in the $2,200 class with Howmac Agustus (Marc Campbell) as the 5-2 morning line favourite for owner Howmac Farms Ltd., and trainer Kyle Williams. Daddys Eyes (Ken Murphy) holds down post one from the Jeff Holmes barn while Painted Pony will leave from post three.
The "Post Time Picks" like Howmac Agustus on top: “Howmac Agustus He finished third to a runaway winner but was still charted in 1:57.2. Remains at the same level and dash leader Campbell is listed to drive so he could hit the wire first.”
Race 14 is the $3,800 Preferred Pace with No Plan Intended leaving from the assigned post seven after winning this class his last two starts for owner Danny Birt and trainer Jennifer Doyle. Mike McGuigan picks up the catch-drive behind the 26-time winner. Other top entries include Laughagain Hanover (Hughes), Middleton Terror (David Dowling) and Island Beach Boy (Gilles Barrieau).
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)