One of the most anticipated showdowns of the harness racing season will take place Saturday night at the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre when racing heavy weight Astronomical meets Outlawpositivcharg in the evening feature event
. Post time is 7 p.m. with the top class being called to the gate at 9:35 p.m.
Outlawpositivcharg has won his last three in a row including that blistering 1:54 mile last week where he’s a charted winner by 8 1/4 lengths for driver Terry Gallant. Gallant will turn the driving duties over to Earl Smith because of stake commitments in N.S. on the same day. The duo leaves from Post 5 and takes on Astronomical, who qualified last week in 1:57.4 and sprinted home with a final quarter of :27.4. According to trainer Dr. Ian Moore, Astronomical is in super shape and can’t wait to return to the racetrack. Kenny Arsenault gets the driving assignment behind the lifetime winner of $754,958 from Post 4.
So the top guns leave from the outside in a compact field with Mighty and Strong drawing the rail. Ron Matheson will do the driving for owner Pat Morris, Charlottetown. Pans O Silver, owned by Alex MacPhee, Cornwall gets Post 2 for driver Brian MacPhee while Riccaras Sun completes the field from Post 4. The award winner will make his second start of the season for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Ken MacInnis of Charlottetown. With Arsenault driving Astronomical, Michael Stevenson gets the call to drive Riccaras Sun.
Les MacIssac, racing analyst with Harness Racing PEI, is going with Outlawpositivcharg. “He's been winning with ease so far this year, mainly because he's been allowed to control his own destiny,” explained the host of Racing Tips in the program. “The one to his immediate left can really get off the gate so it might not be quite as easy. Having said that, after watching that performance last week he still must be treated as the one to beat.”
The Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre will carry the $283,000 Molson Pace from Western Fair in London, Ontario tonight. Kingston, P.E.I. native Mark MacDonald has a good shot at his first cup when he drives Clowns Smile from Post 4 in the final. Former Gold Cup & Saucer winner and Charlottetown’s track record holder Silent Swing is also in the event.
To view Saturday's entries, click here.
(Harness Racing PEI)