Governor’s Plate hopeful Merito Hanover comes to town and will clash with some top Atlantic-bred pacers during his debut Saturday (June 18) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The capital oval has 11 dashes on tap for Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. opening post time for the program.
Merito Hanover will make his P.E.I. debut from the rail in the evening's eighth race. Gilles Barrieau drives the Trevor Hicken trainee in his $2,450 assignment for new owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que. The four-year-old son of Bettors Delight had been racing in Ontario with a win two starts back in 1:52.3 over the half-mile Flamboro Downs oval.
Middleton Terror will loom the danger from post two in his first start for the David Dowling barn. The three-year-old son of Stonebridge Terror was a winner his last start in a $11,200 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold division for three-year-old pacing colts stopping the clock in 1:56.1 while defeating last year’s champion colt Stash It Away.
Zendayacougarbeach has post three fresh off a second-place finish in Turner Memorial stake action in Truro where he charged home hard to finish three-quarters of a length shy of Fern Hill General. Marc Campbell is back in the bike of Zendayacougarbeach for trainer Dave Kelly Sr.
West Coast Kid makes his Island debut from post six in the field for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Philip Kelly. The Betterthancheddar four-year-old last raced in April at Western Fair Raceway where he was a 1:59.2 winner and claimed by his new connections.
Peter MacPhee considers Merito Hanover the most probable winner of the night in the Post Time Picks.
“That start three back jumps off the page going wire-to-wire at Flamboro,” MacPhee said. “We’re wagering Gilles will want to call the shots and if they do get to boss it this could be a winning debut.”
Completing the eighth race field are Mr Rielly (Corey MacPherson), Bonitas Sunshine (Ken Murphy), JJ Xavier (Mark Bradley) and Grand Ave Legend (Adam Merner).
The evening's top pace is in Race 9 for a $3,000 pot with Blue Monk the top choice from post two for driver Campbell, trainer Jay Noye and owners Mary Jean Noye and Denise Andrew. The Up The Credit four-year-old was an impressive winner his last start in 1:54.4 and will now take on four foes Saturday including Good Eye Hawkeye (Hughes) and The Big Chase (MacPherson).
Catch all the action live at the track or tune into the race day show at Redshores.ca. Go to HPIBet.com to wager online. To view Saturday's entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)