The draw is complete and the storylines emerge as the horses get ready to compete in a 15-dash race program Saturday at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
First-race post time is 12:30 p.m.
Frill Seeker, a seven-year-old trotter owned by Sport PEI Hall of Fame member Don McDougall of the Ebbsfleet Stable, Stratford, Ont. – a stable name in honour of his summer home on PEI – will try to extend his winning streak to three in a row when he goes behind the gate for Race 5 for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault.
The son of Angus Hall seems to be flashing some of that form from the hot days of summer when he shaved one-fifth of a second off the Summerside Raceway track record for older trotters last July.
It won’t be an easy task for Frill Seeker to pull off the top spot with heavy weights Caliban Hanover (to be driven by Ron Gass) and JK Hustler (Walter Cheverie) also listed as triactor candidates. The field is deep with talent and includes – from the rail out – Money Show, I Aint No Lady, Pleasure Girls and JK Queen.
The feature puts Mach It Big (Marc Campbell) up against Astor (Jason Hughes) as one of the most anticipated show-downs of the afternoon. The pair battled it out last week with Mach It Big, who sports back-to-back wins, coming out on top for owner Mickael Lustic, Cornwall and trainer Jonah Moase. Astor, owned by Foxyhall racing of Summerside, PE, faded late in the stretch in that match-up after demanding to lead the race. The line-up also includes Perfect Escape (Ron Matheson), The Big Bite (Corey MacPherson), Forever Paradise (Gary Chappell), Cambest Kisser (Kenny Arsenault) and Machinthesand (Ken Murphy).
Some of the other highlights on the card include Beckenbauer being established as the morning line favourite (5-2) in the Earl Campbell 70th birthday pace (Race 6). Woodmere No Fool and Stonebridge Wish will look for their respective hat tricks while veteran pacer Life Savior will try to notch his 50th lifetime victory for owner Darla MacEachern, Kensington, PE.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)