What looks to be a closely-matched group of horses will face off in the Thursday night feature at Red Shores' Charlottetown Driving Park.
First race post time for the 12-dash card is 7:00 p.m.
Le Fugueur has drawn the rail in the $1,850 event (Race 11) and looks to be the favourite for P.E.I.’s leading driver, Marc Campbell, conditioner Darren Trainor and owner Jennifer Trainor. The Omar Khayam seven-year-old won his last two starts and has another hot horse on his outside, with Cabo Pan Lucas (to be driven by Vincent Poulton) from Post 2. Cabo Pan Lucas has won his last three starts, with his latest victory a 1:57.2 upset of Governor’s Plate finalist First Art Down. Last week’s Thursday night feature winner, Artners In Crime (Ron Matheson), is shouldered with the far outside in the eight-horse affair.
Other entries are Astronomical Union (Brodie MacPhee), Painted Pony (Mark Bradley), Miracle Matts (Blois MacPhail), Camcun (Kenny Arsenault) and Capitalism (Jason Hughes).
A field of eight conditioned trotters will square off in Race 4 with CDP veteran Saulsbrook Balance having drawn Post 4 for driver Willie Murphy, co-owner and trainer Cindy MacDonald of Montague and co-owner Tanya MacKinnon of Souris. The eight-year-old son of Nikes Image was a runner-up his last start to Zip The Lip, who moves up a class with that win. His absence makes Saulsbrook Balance the one to beat, but he is sure to face challenges from Post 2 starter BJ Eldorado (Kenny Arsenault) and Delta Dental (Ron Gass) from Post 7. Also in the field is Ashotinthedark (Joey Pineau), BJ Carmalyta (Bert Honkoop), Dunmore Alpha (Ted Smallwood), Fire Opal Hanover (Paul Morrison), and Scarlet Patti (Darryl MacLean).
The $1,550 back-up pace has been carded as Race 9 with Machinthesand having drawn Post 4 for driver MacPhee, trainer Bradley and owners Noonan Holdings and Russell and Karen Noonan of Middleton. The Mach Three pacer was a winner his last start in 1:56.2 with MacPhee in the bike. Other top entries are War Cry Ranger (Brian Andrew) from the rail, Scootin Art (Corey MacPherson) and Lyndale Royal (Brian MacPhee).
Live racing continues on P.E.I. with a card Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at the CDP, and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Red Shores' Summerside Raceway featuring the first $4,000 divisions of the Premiers Pace series.
To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)