The countdown is on as Marc Campbell, the 'King' of Prince Edward Island racing, will look to close in on a historic milestone Thursday evening (June 7) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The Thursday card gets underway at 6:30 p.m. with Red Shores leading driver Marc Campbell just seven wins away from 2,000 career victories, making the 33-year-old the youngest ever to reach the milestone in Atlantic Canadian harness racing history. Campbell has seven drives on the 12-dash weekday program as he looks to close the gap to his historic moment.
Freddie will be gunning to repeat his Open Trot victory from last week in the eighth-race $1,950 Open Trot, leaving from post six for trainer-driver Campbell and owner Three Wisemen Stable. The track record holder was a 1:58.1 winner in last week’s edition, but has to face off against the talented Osprey Impact again this week. The Paul Larrabee-owned and trained Osprey Impact will have Walter Cheverie back in the bike on Thursday after a runner-up finish to Freddie in her latest. Frill Seeker has already knocked off Freddie this season and gets post four to work with Thursday for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac thinks the Open Trot will not be part of Campbell's ascent to greatness, as he places his faith in Osprey Impact to bounce back to the winner’s circle.
“Osprey Impact put in a pretty good effort last week for her first start in six months,” MacIsaac said of the post-five starter. “Since she'll likely be a little tighter for this one, she's quite possibly the one to beat.”
Other Open Trot entries include Rosberg (Jason Hughes), Zip The Lip (Brian MacPhee) and Holy Molie Maggie (Corey MacPherson).
Campbell will also start from the outside in the $2,350 Fillies and Mares Open Pace (race 12) with his own Malabrigo (post eight). The daughter of Western Paradise is installed at 10-1 morning line odds in a field of the best pacing mares the East Coast has to offer. Ramblinglily is the top choice from post seven with Gary Chappell at the lines for trainer Allan Jones, who co-owns with Normand Leger. The eight-year-old daughter of Articulator knocked off this group last week in 1:56.3. Other top entries include Prettyndangerous (Adam Merner) from post two and West River Ambyr (Steven Shepherd) with post five.
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To view Thursday’s harness racing entries, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)