The stars are out in full force for a 13-dash race program Saturday at Red Shores' Charlottetown Driving Park.
First-race post time is 6:00 p.m.
Outlawpositivcharg, with Terry Gallant listed to drive, has been established as the 5-2 morning line favourite in the nine-horse cast of stars, which includes heavy hitters Touch Of Lightening (to be driven by Earl Smith), Carnivore (Gary Chappell), Big League (Walter Cheverie) and rail-sitter Camcun (Kenny Arsenault).
It’s a big field of contenders, with Oakrock Almighty making his first start of the season for the Matheson stable, while Im Dreamin, who finished third last week for Mark Cullen, moves up the class ladder and also meets newcomer Machinthesand for Russell & Karen Noonan and Noonan Holdings Ltd. Mark Bradley will do the driving. Windemere Express, owned by John Thompson of Charlottetown and trained by Earl Watts, is the lone trailer for Marc Campbell.
Another headliner on the program is the Open Trot Handicap in Race 5 featuring Buckling Banbury who scorched the legendary oval last week in 2:00.3 in what many believe to be one of the fastest trot miles ever witnessed this early in the season for trainer Ron Gass and driver Corey MacPherson. Gass will have another busy night as he sends out three in this division. Gass will drive Caliban Hanover for Wendell MacDonald of Cornwall while his other trainee Delta Dental will be handled by Walter Cheverie for owner Shelly Gass. Zip The Lip, who almost caught Buckling Banbury in the April 27 match-up, is also back this week from Post 8.
Jason Hughes is the busiest pilot on the night as the Stratford native is booked on 10 drives, including favourite Wildcats Terror in the opener for Barry, Kevin and Trevor Doyle of Earnscliffe.
(With files from Red Shores)