On Thursday, Dec. 26, the top mares from Eastern Canada will go head-to-head once again during the Boxing Day afternoon program at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 14-race card kicks off at 12:30 p.m. at the capital oval, with the highlight of the day — the Fillies and Mares Preferred — set for Race 13.
In the $4,050 feature event, Sugar Bowl will be leaving from post three for trainer Jeff Holmes and owners Tommy Collings and Brian MacPhee of Mount Stewart. This five-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou and Well Read has earned six wins this season and will once again be driven by Gilles Barrieau.
Tobins Brownie (Marc Campbell) was last week’s winner in this class and will leave from post two for trainer Earl Watts. Meanwhile, Jennifer Doyle is closing in on the P.E.I. record for most wins in a season, currently sitting at 111 victories with just two programs left in 2024. She sends out Shake N Blake (David Dowling), from post four as she chases the record of 113 wins.
Also in the field are JM Sportsfan (Steven Shepherd) with rail control and Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson) with post five.
“Sugar Bowl was closing in at the wire last week and did fire home in a snappy :28.1. We’re betting Barrieau will have her well spotted off the wings and if that’s how it plays out, she could go one better this week.”
Race 5 features the Boxing Day Pace, with Skip Across (Ryan Desroche) the top contender from post eight. Trained and co-owned by Stanley Harper, along with co-owners Ryan Wilkie and Tara Harper, she faces strong competition from Azure Beach (Paul Langille), starting from post four, and Century Invictus (Norris Rogers), who leaves from post seven.
For Thursday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores, photo of Sugar Bowl from a previous win)