The Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre will host one of the biggest weekends of racing this Saturday and Sunday with the Maritime’s top three-year-old pacers, invitational stars and even poker players vying for some of the grand prize money on the line
.
Saturday features three eliminations for pacing colts in the Maritime Breeders while the fillies square off in two eliminations trying to earn in a berth in next week’s final. The colts will go for $26,000 with the fillies sharing a $30,000 pay cheque in the Ken Starratt Memorial. War Dancer, Darko, Extreme Measures and Urge To Win among the morning line favourites in the colt divisions with Southview Spirit, REs Mary and Shadow Dancer getting some of the early attention in the filly categories.
The Cecil Ladner Memorial Pacing Series has attracted the region’s top guns with two eliminations slated in Races 11 and 12 on Saturday. The first heat has KG Affair and driver Terry Gallant drawing the rail for owner Fred Lamont, Calgary, Alta. Riccarras Sun has Post 2 for Michael Stevenson with Astronomical lining up next on the wings for Kenny Arsenault. Then San Marco Hanover and Ryan Ellis and Royal Millennium with Jason Hughes apply pressure from the outside.
Racing analyst Les MacIssac is going with Astronomical as his top choice. “He halted the winning streak of the red hot Outlawpositivcharg, which is quite a feat in itself, but he did it in his first start of the season which is more impressive,” said MacIssac. “With his gate speed there are very few that can deny him when he sets his sights on the front and when he gets there they could be battling for place.”
The second elimination has Abby Best(Kenny Arsenault), St Pete Star (Danny Romo), Outlawpositivcharg (Terry Gallant), Negrito,(Gary Chappell) Mighty and Strong (Gilles Barrieau). MacIsaac believes last year’s Governor’s Plate winner Outlawpositivcharg is hot right now. “He returned to the winners circle after a one week break and did it in fine style by toying with the field in another impressive mile. He couldn't possibly be any shaper than he is right now and it should make for an interesting final if he happens to draw inside his nemisis.”
The action begins Saturday at 7 p.m. and returns on Sunday with another action packed program at 1 p.m.
(Harness Racing PEI)