The distaff pacing ranks will take centre stage on Thursday, June 4 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park as Sugar Bowl aims to defend her title in the second annual Kent Oakes Memorial.
The capital oval has a 13-dash program starting at 6 p.m., with the $6,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace honouring the legacy of Kent Oakes. Oakes was a lifelong supporter of Prince Edward Island and Canadian harness racing and was awarded with two of the sport’s greatest honours in the Cam Fella Award and an induction into the Canadian Horse Facing Hall Of Fame. The new racing surface at Charlottetown opened 21 years ago on June 4, 2005, with a team of dedicated individuals committed to revitalizing the industry. Oakes, in his role with the provincial government, served an integral part of that group. His memory lives on in the sport he loved and the many people and horses he helped along the way.
Sugar Bowl won the event in 2025 and will vie for another victory from post three for trainer-driver David O’Brien and owner Brian MacPhee of Mount Stewart, P.E.I. The Sweet Lou-Well Read seven-year-old was second in a Preferred to Lady Cafe Au Lait in her first start of the season on May 28.
Windemere Saddy is the 5-2 morning-line favourite in the featured event from post two with Ken Murphy in the seat for trainer Saul Lanigan of Cambridge, P.E.I., who shares ownership with Shane Esson of Moncton, N.B., Darcy Doyle of Moncton and Isaac Schurman of Kensington, P.E.I. The five-year-old daughter of Malicious-Hart Of Windemere was fantastic late in the season in 2025, winning the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series final and three Preferred-level events.
Rosetown Mary gets post four with Corey MacPherson training and driving the Pang Shui-Brodys Leona mare for owners Rosetown Stable of Stratford, P.E.I. and Taylor MacPherson of Cornwall, P.E.I. The six-year-old rides a three-race win streak into Thursday's contest.
Lady Devine has rail control with Brady Sweet in the bike for trainer Jennifer Doyle, who co-owns the five-year-old daughter of Heston Blue Chip-Booty Call with Max Webster Stable of Inverness, N.S. Stablemate Sweet Molly will leave from post five with Gilles Barrieau aboard for Clair Murphy of Millvale, P.E.I., Derrill Murphy of Lethbridge, Alta. and Cindy MacLean of Charlottetown, P.E.I. The five-year-old Sweet Lou-Cheyenne Molly mare finished third behind Sugar Bowl and Lady Cafe Au Lait last week.
Redland Misspretty completes the field from post six with Paul Langille driving for the Kyle Williams barn and owners Rebecca Blaisdell of Inverness, P.E.I., Howard Anderson of Trenton, N.S. and Brian MacGregor of Bedford, N.S. The six-year-old daughter of Source Of Pride-Woodmere Nora has scored a win and two seconds so far this year.
The Post Time Picks will side with Windemere Saddy.
“Windemere Saddy finished 2025 on a three-race winning streak and came out swinging in her first charted mile of 2026, winning her qualifier in 1:56.4 with a last quarter in :28.3. She's picking up right where she left off, so with this inside post, I'm betting she goes coast to coast on top for her fourth consecutive win.”
For Thursday's complete harness racing entries, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores; photo of Sugar Bowl winning the 2025 Kent Oakes Memorial)