Red Shores has sent out a pair of previews for its cards of live racing this weekend at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside Raceway.
Maritime Breeders Finals set for Charlottetown and Summerside tracks; All Turain favoured in Preferred Pace
It’s the richest stakes races of the season, as Red Shores Charlottetown and Summerside play host to the Maritime Breeder’s stakes with $33,000 on the line for the two-year-old colts and $29,200 for the two-year-old fillies. These showdowns will happen Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in Charlottetown. Red Shores Summerside will feature the two-year-old trotters in the MBA final for $8,600, while the three-year olds race for $7,100. First-race post time on Sunday is 1:00 p.m..
Dumas Walker, who won his elimination in 1:59 and the Breeders Crown in 1:57.2, has drawn Post 2 for driver Myles Heffernan from Glace Bay, NS. The son of Western Success has been established at 5-2 odds on the morning line. Super S Yzerman (to be driven by Clare MacDonald) will have to overcome Post 8 in the final, but sports a 10-for-12 in top-three finishes. Gilles Barrieau trainees Tobins Fusion and Settlement Request are also considered top contenders. Barrieau has opted to drive Tobins Fusion with Marc Campbell getting the driving assignment on his other stable star. The field also includes T M Brave Heart (Jason Hughes), Elm Grove Intrepid (Brodie MacPhee), Mr Comraderie (Mike Stevenson) and Rancousy (Darren Crowe).
Two-year-old filly sensation Saulsbrook Alana heads into her final riding a six-race winning streak. Trainer Kevin MacLean has done a remarkable job with her for owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. Her resume speaks for itself: 11 starts with eight wins, one second, two thirds and $43,623 in the bank. Marc Campbell will put her on the gate from Post 6. Finalists Elm Grove Inarush (Mark Bradley) and rail-sitter Sail Through (Barrieau) have also put up some big numbers this season, but it’s going to be tough to knock off the favourite. The rest of the roster for the filly final will be Sea Anna Win (Earl Smith), Pictonian Sareta (Mike Stevenson), Absolootly Hot (Brodie MacPhee), Outrageous Spirit (John Holmes) and Acton Royal Force (Bernard McCallum).
In other action, All Turain has Post 6 in the Preferred Pace (Race 13) for trainer Trevor Hicken and his owner, Lee Hicken of Charlottetown. All Turain has been headlining top classes around the region and comes off a big 1:52.2 performance on Breeders Crown Sunday for Brodie MacPhee. The second-leg splits of the Louis McIsaac Memorial, presented by Meridian Farms, will be staged as Races 6 and 8. The Open mares will clash in Race 11.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
Trotters compete in Maritime Breeders Finals at Summerside; David Rose Memorial also on the card
The spotlight will be on the trotters in the Maritime Breeders Finals Sunday at Summerside. First-race post time is 1:00 p.m.
Trainer-driver Garth Cole certainly had some luck with both his horses, as Lets Trade Ladies and I Aint No Lady have both drawn the rail for their respective divisions.
The two-year-old trotters will go to the gate in Race 4 with last week’s winners Phantom Beau and Saulsbrook Pippa, both trained by John Pineau, starting from outside posts. That could complicate matters, especially with young trotters, but the story gets better, as Dusty Lane Galaxy has drawn Post 2. This trotter has been dominating the competition, but hasn’t won since September 12 during the PEI Colt Stakes. Gary Chappell will do the driving for trainer Stacey Lund. The other starters include Scarlet MacDream (Marc Campbell), Hope Chest (Walter Cheverie), Glencove Yoshi (Mike Stevenson) and Villager (Brian MacPhee).
Taliesin will lead the charge from Post 8 for Campbell in the $7,100 three-year-old final. The son of Northern Bailey-Southview Leah was leading by three lengths in the Breeders Crown, but rolled offstride to finish fourth. The outside post isn’t ideal, but expect to see the Buntainwood Farm star on the front end when the wings fold. The other finalists are Rash Statement (Walter Cheverie), Irish Lullaby (Daniel MacDonald), West River Xcel (Clare MacDonald), Ashotinthedark (Corey MacPherson), Northern Trapper (Brian MacPhee) and Windemere Norma (Kenny Arsenault).
The afternoon program features the second leg of the David Rose Memorial in Races 8, 10 and 12. The claiming event, presented by Meridian Farms, gives customers an opportunity to fill out ballots for a chance to team up with one of the horses in the race to win some prizes.
Ultimate Luck will attempt back-to-back wins when the Sifroi Melanson trainee takes on a power-packed field in Race 11. In his last start, the pacer, owned by the Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, NB, toured the Prince County Oval in 1:57.4, sprinting home in :28.4 to win by fourth lengths for Kenny Arsenault.
To view the harness racing entries for Sunday at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)