The trotters will command the spotlight on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park in the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for rookies and sophomores.
The 14-dash presentation starts at 6 p.m. (ADT) with the P.E.I. Colt Stakes on the line.
The two-year-old colt trotters open the stakes action in race two with a $13,500 division. West River Karuna is rated as the 5-2 favourite from post two with Ken MacDonald driving for trainer Clare MacDonald and owner Haley MacDonald. The son of Legion Of Honor-Pannacotta Hanover has already tasted stakes success and will look to continue that momentum. Hoponarocket (Michael McGuigan) will leave from post three after a pair of close finishes in recent weeks.
The fillies take over in race five with another $13,500 purse. Hallysgurl has been established as the morning line choice from post eight with four wins and a second from five starts for trainer Darryl MacLean and owners Calvin Larkin and Erika Bradley. Gilles Barrieau will drive the Muscle Mass-Incredible Hally filly. Her rivals include Roseys El Girl (Ken Murphy) and Bonmati (Corey MacPherson).
Race seven is the $13,500 second division for two-year-old colt trotters, this one featuring Little Louis as the 5-2 favourite from post two with Corey MacPherson driving for trainer Kuri White and owner East Coast Captains. The E L Rocket-Go With Her gelding has been a model of consistency in the Atlantic stakes program with five straight wins. Big Rig (Mike McGuigan) gets post four while Mr Old Home Week (Ryan Desroche) has post five and looks to rebound this start.
The three-year-old trotting colts will square off in race nine for a $19,100 purse. Bless Me Father, to be driven by Marc Campbell, has the rail and is a perfect six-for-six this season for owner/trainer Donna Van Meer. The Father Patrick-My Angel Heart gelding takes on five opponents, including My Pocket Rocket (Ken Murphy) and West River Jet (Ken MacDonald).
The three-year-old filly trotters go postward in race 11 with another $19,100 division. Supreme Rockette is the one to beat with Gilles Barrieau driving from post three for trainer Mike McGuigan and owner Jamie Whalen. The E L Rocket-Supreme Monarch filly's stablemate Oceanview Nikki, to be drive by McGuigan, will look for her fourth straight win from post one while Dusty Lane Kahlua (Ryan Desroche) has post five after five straight on-the-board finishes.
The Town of Stratford 30th Anniversary Pace lines up in race six with a $3,500 purse for overnight mares.
To view Thursday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores; photo of Little Louis winning on Sept. 4)