Forever Paradise and driver Mike McGuigan reignited their chemistry in last Saturday’s featured pace, but face a tougher task this Saturday evening (July 29) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
First race post time is 6:00 p.m. for the 14-dash card, with Forever Paradise drawing post five in the thirteenth-race $2,400 feature with McGuigan back in the sulky for trainer Kevin MacLean and owners Reg MacPherson, David MacKenzie, and Aaron MacKenzie. The driver-horse combination had their share of success last season in the Preferred pace but run into a red-hot Elm Grove Kaboom and a re-emerging two-time Governor’s Plate champion in D Gs Camme. Earl Smith drives Elm Grove Kaboom from post three for owners Larry and Kathy Chappell as the pacer rides an impressive summary of 11 top-three finishes from 13 seasonal starts. D Gs Camme is fresh off qualifying action with his 1:58.4 qualifier victory falling short of the times shown by his Saturday opposition, but has back class to burn. Gilles Barrieau drives D Gs Camme from post six for trainer Jackie Matheson and owners Quentin and Hal Bevan, Ron Matheson, and Tom Clark.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac sees Elm Grove Kaboom’s current form as enough to land him in the winner’s circle against his eight opponents.
“Elm Grove Kaboom likes the front, but there’s one to his inside (Adkins Hanover) that can really get off the gate so he might not get there,” MacIsaac said. “Having said that, he can race from off the pace as well, so as long as he doesn’t have to come first-up, he could get it all.”
Other entries include Adkins Hanover (Adam Merner), Machinthesand (Ken Murphy), Painted Desert (Ryan Desroche), Jeb (Jason Hughes), Eagle Jolt (Marc Campbell) and Instant Shadow (Kenny Arsenault).
Open pacing mares go to war again in race nine with Ramblinglily the heavy favourite but handicapped with post eight in the nine-horse field. Walter Cheverie drives the mare as she rides a seven-race win streak into the event for trainer Allan Jones, who co-owns with Norman Leger. Other top distaff entries include Woodmere Articblue (Campbell), Shadows Mystery (Arsenault) and Dixie Lullaby (Mark Bradley), who will look for redemption after her sixth pace finish in her 2017 East Coast debut.
Race four is the Drive For Charity Pace presented by Red Shores with Jdcyril the morning line choice from post seven in the $1,250 event. Campbell is in the bike for trainer Kevin MacLean.
(Red Shores)