The stars of racing return to Charlottetown to compete in the Island Breeders Championship finals Saturday afternoon at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino
. Post time is 1 p.m. for the 15-dash card, which includes superstars like Waiting On A Woman, Scarlet Patti, Acton Normal, Putmans Power, Meridian Magic and Mr Salming. Outside of the stakes events, the field sizes have grown to nine horses in each race. This power-packed card will be carried world-wide on the Bell-Aliant Race Day show at www.harnessracingpei.com.
The stakes action begins in Race 4 when one of the most familiar duels of the season materializes again between the CDP’s track record holder for two-year-old trotters Waiting On A Woman and Maple Leaf Spirit meet in the $8,000 final. The step up is a bit different for this match-up with Maple Leaf Spirit, a winner of $34,692 this season, drawing the rail for driver Ralph Annear while Corey MacPherson handles Waiting On A Woman for Mitchell and David Tierney of Cornwall from Post 7. It will be interesting to see what happens when the wings fold.
Scarlet Patti headlines Race 6 in the three-year-old division. The Gordon MacLean-owned trotter has delivered quite a knockout punch this season winning nine out of 13 starts and 20 out of 25 career races putting her lifetime bankroll at $61,216. Son Darryl will handle the daughter of PJs Nabby from Post 5 against a talented field of contenders.
Acton Normal is the morning line favourite in the Island Breeders final for two-year-old fillies. The young pacer, under command of pilot Shane Bernard, turned in an impressive performance last week for trainer-owner Tom Weatherbie of Charlottetown and proud breeders Owen and Donna MacLean of Cornwall. Expect pressure from Moon Landing, who drew inside, and Forthena, who gets the services of Kenny MacDonald. MacDonald’s wife, Clare, will drive another stable star Honey Do Jigtime in the same division.
The star coverage continues in Race 10 with Putmans Power, owned by Ron Seymour Jr and Bruce Donovan of Glace Bay, N.S, making his 15th appearance of the season for driver Danny Romo. The brown colt by Force Of Life is closing in on $60,000 in earnings in his debut season. Meanwhile, Meridian Magic is back in winning form after beating aged horses last week with a :29.2 final panel. The pride of James Gillis and Barry Martin of Sydney, N.S. has captured headlines, trophies and pay cheques totaling $152,282. Driver-trainer Kenny Arsenault leaves from Post 3 in Race 12 scheduled for a 3:50 p.m. post time, which is carried live.
The three-year-old colts, also known as the glamour boys, get introduced in Race 14 featuring Mr Salming, who has banked $61,000 during the campaign for owners Boyd MacDonald of Crapaud and Danny Ross of Belfast. Gilles Barrieau will do the driving off the rail. The colt clocked a 1:57.1 victory in the Turner Memorial last week at Truro. The son of Coastocoast Yankee is in a good position to try to fend off pressure from the likes of Allbentouttashape, a 10-time winner this year, and a very tough Dr Alexander B owned and trained by Paul Doyle of Charlottetown.
Fans can expect a number of driver changes on the program. Gary Chappell was programmed to drive in seven races but was sidelined after a nasty spill Thursday night in Race 8. Chappell, who has 766 drives this season, was thrown to the track and dragged several feet aboard Silver Destiny when the field was lining up behind the gate. He booked off all his drives for Saturday.
To view Saturday's entries, click here.
(Red Shores)