After demolishing his same-gaited rivals in recent weeks, the top trotter in the Maritimes will square off against pacers in his next start on Wednesday (November 1).
Race 5 on the Wednesday program at Red Shores Summerside will see something that has not occurred in years. Freddie has captured the Open trot week-after-week with ease recently, with his only blemish a second-place finish to Kennel Buddy two starts back before that rival relocated to Ontario. Freddie will face a group of pacers who are non-winners of $651 in their last five starts, and he gets post 4 for trainer-driver Campbell and owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston.
Coasttocoastshark is the morning line favourite in the $1,200 race from post 3 with Ken Murphy driving for trainer Jeff Wallace.
Painted Desert has dominated the top event at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway in recent weeks but has some new competition to knock off if he wants the trend to continue on Monday evening.
Corey MacPherson will steer Painted Desert as the morning line choice from post 2 in the race 12 finale top class for a $2,100 purse while riding a two-race win streak in this class. Trevor Hicken trains the son of Western Ideal for owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que.
Heart And Soul is now officially an Islander again as he has left the stable of Clare MacDonald of Nova Scotia and is now trained by breeder George Riley who also owns the horse, as Riley Farms Ltd. of Summerside. Walter Cheverie will drive the champion son of Western Paradise from post 4. Woggy Rocks returns to action from post 5; the son of Rocknroll Hanover has not made a pari-mutuel start since April. Neal Moase trains the horse for Mikaela Wheaton of Warren Grove with Adam Merner getting the catch driving call this week.
Race analyst Bo Ford will place his faith in Painted Desert to overcome his new competitors.
"Painted Desert has been solid since entering the Hicken stable," Ford said. "With back-to-back victories at this level and a dandy post to work with, it should be time for him to go streaking."
Other top class entries include Machinthesand (Ken Murphy), Rash B Havior (Mike Peters), Eagle Jolt (Marc Campbell) and Allstar Seelster (Norris Rogers).
First race post time is 6:30 P.M. for the 12-dash Wednesday program.
(with files from Red Shores)