A pair of streaking Landon Campbell trainees, Open trotter Buckhead Ridge and undefeated rookie pacing filly Saulsbrook Rolo, will aim for more success at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park on Thursday evening, Aug. 21.
The featured $4,200 Open Handicap Trot will line up in race six with Buckhead Ridge assigned the outermost post five after winning his last four outings and 11 of 13 since arriving in Prince Edward Island this year for trainer Landon Campbell and driver Marc Campbell. This five-year-old Nuncio-Tuonela gelding is owned by Brady Doyle of Stratford, P.E.I.
Buckhead Ridge is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line with Fight Song getting the nod at 5-2 with the inside post position. Fight Song was a close runner-up in their last matchup in the Colonel Dan Trot on Saturday. The six-year-old Kadabra-Fortunes Of Fables gelding is driven by Jason Hughes, trained by Ashley Gamester and owned by Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I.
Saulsbrook Rolo will put her unblemished record on the line in the 10th race finale, a $3,700 fillies and mares conditioned pace, for the Campbells. The two-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe out of Atlantic champion Saulsbrook Alana has started her career with four wins in as many starts and took a new lifetime mark of 1:55.2 in her latest. A $40,000 yearling purchase, the 2024 Atlantic Classic Sale topper is owned by Carl Stafford of Conception Bay South, Nfld. Saulsbrook Rolo has post one on Thursday and is the 5-2 morning line choice.
Lining up to take a shot at ending her streak are Real Smokeshow, a consistent top-three performer in her debut three-year-old season for trainer Ashley Gamester to be driven by Jason Hughes from post five, and four-year-old mare Woodmere Lizzie in post three with Corey MacPherson aboard for conditioner David O'Brien. Also in the mix are Woodmere Betcha (Mike McGuigan), Wired Blue Chip (Adam Merner), Wednesday (Myles Heffernan Jr.) and Magnificent Mia (Paul Langille).
Earlier on the program, more trotters line up in race three for the D & G Younker Memorial, carrying a purse of $3,800. Veteran campaigner Majian Tango is the 5-2 morning line favourite from post two for trainer Jim Ripley, who drives for owner Marylea Ripley of Amherst, N.S. Other top entries include Oceanview Daisy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) from post three, another Ripley trainee Majian Salsa (Ken Murphy) with post five and Glider Man (David Dowling) from post six.
Post time for the 10-race card is 6 p.m. (ADT).
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 31)