Fight Song, Buckhead Ridge and Flemsteen are set for another showdown in the featured second leg of the Island Oceans Trot Series, presented by Burkie By The Bay Stable, at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Thursday, July 23.
The $8,000 contest, scheduled as the eighth race, headlines a 13-race card beginning at 6 p.m.
Fight Song has post four with Jason Hughes driving for trainer Ashley Gamester. The seven-year-old son of Kadabra-Fortunes Of Fables has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favourite after cutting the mile in Buckhead Ridge's track-record setting victory at Summerside Raceway last Friday and finishing second.
Buckhead Ridge leaves from post six as the 3-1 morning-line second choice with Marc Campbell handling the lines for trainer Landon Campbell. The six-year-old son of Nuncio-Tuonela stopped the clock in 1:55.3 to shatter the Summerside record on July 17. Flemsteen (7-2) is tasked with overcoming post seven. The Explosive Matter-Lost Symbol gelding set the all-age trotting record at Charlottetown earlier this year for trainer Jenn Doyle. David Dowling is set to drive the eight-year-old.
Fight Song, Buckhead Ridge and Flemsteen have faced off in six straight races, with that trio making up the triactor in all but one. The head-to-head win tally stands at Flemsteen - 3, Buckhead Ridge - 2, Fight Song - 1.
Joining them are West River Jet (PP3, 4-1), who now joins the barn of trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault, Oceanview Nikki (PP1, 6-1), trained and driven by Mike McGuigan, Rocket Blast (PP1, 8-1) for trainer-driver Corey MacPherson, and New Legacy (PP5, Gilles Barrieau, 3-1), Doyle's second entrant in the race.
The Post Time Picks selects Fight Song on top.
“Fight Song cut track-record fractions for Buckhead Ridge in Summerside last week and Flemsteen in Charlottetown back in June. He has been racing big but has not been rewarded for his efforts. He finally has post advantage over his main competition, so tonight could be his night to take back the title.”
The P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series Grassroots divisions carry $6,000 purses in Races 10 and 13.
Saulsbrook Pika is the 5-2 morning-line favourite in the first split from post three for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Ron Matheson. Moon Bound (3-1) has rail control with David Dowling driving for trainer Jenn Doyle, while Freaky Fanny (7-2) leaves from post seven for trainer-driver Darren Crowe.
Steady Heart gets top billing in the second Graduate Series Grassroots division. Marc Campbell drives the 5-2 morning-line favourite from post eight for trainer Bo Ford. Sensational Gal is the 3-1 morning-line second choice from post three with Barrieau aboard for trainer Nicholas Oakes, while Promise Me Later (7-2) has post two with Paul Langille driving for trainer Luke Burke.
Race 5 is the Emco Sumner Pace for fillies and mares. Joy Of My Life leads the field as the 5-2 morning-line top choice from post seven with Zac Noye driving for Jay Noye.
To view Thursday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores; photo of Buckhead Ridge winning on July 17)