One of the greatest trotting rivalries in the history of Atlantic Canadian harness racing will come to a close on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 24) in the Maritime Breeders Final at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 13-dash Saturday program has a 12:30 P.M. opening post time featuring a smattering of Maritime Breeders action. The $11,000 three-year-old trot final lines up in Race 6 of the day with Tequila Tuesday and Mabou Ridge meeting for the final time in stakes action after trading blows every week the past two years.
Mabou Ridge has post two with trainer-driver Clare MacDonald, and that duo has been victorious more times than his rival the past two seasons but Tequila Tuesday has bounced up both years to crown himself Atlantic Sires Stakes champion. Myles Heffernan Sr., holds the lines of Tequila Tuesday from the coveted rail on Saturday in the final Atlantic trot stake of their careers. Trotting filly Go With Her (Brodie MacPhee) has knocked on the door every week all year, beating both Tequila Tuesday and Mabou Ridge on occasion, but has never gotten the best of both colts at the same time. This will be her final crack to defeat them both.
Peter MacPhee with the Post Time Picks has Mabou Ridge in position to get the final say in the divisional rivalry. “Mabou Ridge has put together a tidy season with six wins, more than $33,000 in earnings, and a record of 1:58.1. He could be set up for a pocket ride today and if that’s the case there’s a good chance he reaches up and wins again.”
Race 2 features the $11,500 Maritime Breeders two-year-old trot final. Mr Finlay Ridge is the morning line favourite from post six for trainer-driver MacDonald while his main rival, Dusty Lane Milo, has post five for driver Adam Merner.
The day also features Maritime Breeders elimination for the three-year-old pacing colts and fillies. The colts have eliminations in Races 9 and 11, while the fillies have eliminations in Races 4 and 8. The top four in each elimination will advance to next week’s final.
The Cecil Ladner Memorial lines up in Race 12 for a $6,000 purse. Time To Dance is the top choice from Post 6 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell as the horse looks for his eighth straight victory.
For race programs and more go to Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com. To view the entries for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)