The fall series is here with the Joe O’Brien Memorial Stakes and the Lady Slipper Stakes taking centre stage at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park Saturday at 6 p.m. and Red Shores Summerside Raceway Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Saturday card features the two-year-old colt and filly pacers, with one of the emerging headlines coming in the Lady Slipper gold division in Race 6 when Dusty Lane Bria, owned by Kenny Wilkie, Stratford and Larry Chappell, Marshfield, takes on Three Pink Bows (to be driven by Danny Romo) and Woodmere Dancenart (Clare MacDonald). The filly, who has been established as the morning line favourite in $11,700 showdown, just missed her fourth win in a row at Northside Downs. Kenny Arsenault will handle the daughter of Ameripan Gigolo-Briannas Attitude from Post 2. Miss Oromocto, Ubettown and The Good Wife complete the field.
Jann Down, owned by the Downey Stables, NB, is favoured to win the second Lady Slipper gold in Race 8 for Gilles Barrieau. Swift Taylor (Mike Stevenson) and Party Rockin (Romo) are also triactor candidates.
Bossy Brilla, owned by Wade Peconi, Stanchel, and Lyndale Jenn, trained by veteran Terry Affleck, will attempt top honours in their respective grassroots divisions.
The two-year-old colts compete in two gold divisions for $10,800 each in the Joe O’Brien memorial. Dixieland Band takes a three race winning streak into Race 12 for driver Marc Campbell, trainer Kevin MacLean and owners Reg MacPherson, David and Aaron MacKenzie. The colt took a new lifetime mark of 1:58.1 with the margin of victory charted in a comfortable four lengths in his last start. The other gold O’Brien split has Camco Titan for trainer Earl Watts and owners Windemere Farms- Harris Johnston, John Howatt and Roger Burns. The colt has won half of his starts this season and banked $22,549 in earnings.
Mayhem Man, who is coming off a convincing victory at Summerside last week for the Jay Noye stable, and R Es Reese (Mike Stevenson) are the morning line favourites in their respective O’Brien grassroots divisions.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
Elm Grove Inarush goes for gold in Lady Slipper stake at Summerside; Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Final also on the card
Elm Grove Inarush has a big cheering section and they will be out in full force Sunday when the three-year-old filly attempts gold in the Lady Slipper stake at Red Shores Summerside.
The daughter of Coasttocoast Yankee has 10 victories from 15 starts for trainer Eddy Doucette and driver Mark Bradley. The filly rallied from outside Post 7 at Truro to win in 1:57.1 over Saulsbrook Alana. They will meet again Sunday along with Lovingeveryminute. This is one of the most anticipated showdowns in stakes action this season. The starter will call to the field in $12,300 contest in Race 8. Doucette will be a member of a special guest panel during the Atlantic Breeders Crown banquet on Saturday, October 11 at the Howard Johnston Dutch Inn.
The glamour boys hit the track in two Joe O’Brien gold splits in Races 6 and 10. Woodmere Rondevous has been basically unstoppable as he rides a four race win streak into his division for driver Mike Stevenson and trainer Anthony Stymest. Arties Magic (Todd Trites) will try to knock the favourite from Post 2. The colt, co-owned by Windemere Farms and Clive Balderston, has been putting up some solid numbers with seven scores from 12 starts this season. The other $11,000 split has Dumas Walker (Myles Heffernan) up against Settlement Request, J PS Warrior, Just a Professor, JJ Laser and Hurrah.
In other action, Stayoutofmyaffair is listed as the one to catch in the $16,520 Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares final. Jason Hughes will do the driving for his brother Robi from Post 2. The mare takes on two Jackie Matheson trainees General Luckypercy (Gilles Barrieau) and For All We Know (Gary Chappell) in the final. Hughes, who had a career day with five winners last week at Summerside, also sends out Bunny Mach (Kenny Arsenault) from Post 8.
The card will also feature the Garth Schurman memorial in Race 3 with Strident Hanover trained by Kuri White for owner Emily MacPhee listed as the one to beat.
To view the harness racing entries for Sunday at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)