Some Christmas cheer is coming to Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park with Boxing Day action Monday afternoon.
The Capital oval will kick off its 16-dash card at 12:30 p.m., with the Boxing Day Pace slated as race 15 on the program.
Drivingthedragon N rides a two-race win streak into post five in the feature event for a $2,300 purse with Jason Hughes in the bike for owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. The seven-year-old daughter of Sutter Hanover has never been worse than third on the East Coast since relocating to the “Blue Knight” stable. Smiley Bayama was sharp in featured action last week with Drivingthedragon N absent, as Adam Merner drove the pacer to a four-length victory, and draws post seven in this week’s event. Doing Some Damage climbs the class ladder again but draws the rail for trainer Ambyr Campbell with her father, Brian MacPhee, doing the driving.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac is playing it safe in the feature as he selects Drivingthedragon N to hit the winner’s circle.
“She’s been nothing less than dominant in her last couple of starts and she doesn’t even have to contend with the outside post [on Monday],” MacIsaac said. “Other than the likely short price, there’s not much to dislike.”
Other entries in the Boxing Day Pace include Best Risque (Gary Chappell), IDK (Vincent Poulton), Forever Paradise (Corey MacPherson), and Eagle Jolt (Marc Campbell).
Campbell continues his record season driving with just two card left in the calendar year for Red Shores. Campbell has 135 winners so far in 2016 and has a couple live mounts on the Monday card including Painted Pony from post three in the race 16 back-up pace for a $1,800 pot. Painted Pony is owned and trained by Raymond White of Murray River, P.E.I.
Kyle Gillis will make his driving debut on the program as the 19-year-old hits the track in race eight behind Jet Passing from post two for trainer Hughes and owner Robi Hughes of Stratford, P.E.I. Hughes elected to drive stablemate Mr Cherry from post four for Foxyhall Racing of Nova Scotia. Gillis, originally hailing from Truro, N.S., has a live chance with Jet Passing posted as the morning line favourite.
His chances with Jet Passing are solid but Gillis will be looking to steal a victory aboard his own Windemere Stanley at 8-1 morning line odds in race 14. The post two starter has some solid competition including Silverhill Storm (Hughes) and Fly With Max (Campbell).
The Greenhawk Charlottetown Pace lines up in race nine with a full field of nine as Jetster is favoured from post nine with Campbell driving for trainer Ralph Sweet of O’Leary, P.E.I.
The top trot of the day is in race four with Holy Molie Maggie favoured from post six with John Holmes doing the driving for his son, trainer Jeff Holmes. The elder Holmes is home for Christmas as he now takes up residence in Ontario. The $1,600 race also has Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault) and Thunderaway (Hughes).
To view Monday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Monday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)