Red Shores has sent out its weekly preview of the upcoming racing action at both the Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside Raceway.
Island Pacing Championship Headlines Charlottetown Race Card
The fall race season is heating up with the region’s top guns arriving on Prince Edward Island. Leg 2 of the Island Pacing Championship (presented by Meridian Farms), the Lady Slipper for two-year-old fillies and Joe O’Brien stakes for two-year-old colts will be showcased Saturday at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park. First-race post time for the 14-dash program is 6:00 p.m.
Governor’s Plate winner Wild Dragon, with Gilles Barrieau in town to drive, has drawn the rail in the first division of the Island Pacing Championship. The pacer finished fifth last week in Leg 1 at Summerside after battling through hot fractions which included a :27.3 opening panel. Big League, who won that showdown, will start from Post 3 for trainer Jonah Moase of Cornwall. Corey MacPherson, who had a career day Sunday with four winners, is listed to drive the 5-2 morning-line favourite. The field also includes Cambest Kisser (to be driven by Jason Hughes), Windemere Express (Marc Campbell), Narragansett (Norris Rogers) and Oakrock Almighty (Ron Matheson).
All Turain, a name that has appeared on every sports page in the Maritimes, gets Post 2 in the second division (Race 12) of the Island Pacing Championship. The son of Tell All is going after his fifth win in a row for owner Lee Hicken of Charlottetown and his co-owner-trainer Trevor Hicken of Montague. Brodie MacPhee, who was involved in a nasty spill Thursday night, is programmed to drive the star pacer. The power-packed line-up also includes Balanchine (PP1), Leading Camdidate (PP3), Touch of Lightning (PP4), Lucky Encounter (PP5) and Creighton Hanover (PP6).
The stakes stars touch down in three divisions of the Lady Slipper Grassroots and the $20,200 Lady Slipper Gold featuring the sensational two-year-old filly Saulsbrook Alana. The daughter of Western Paradise, trained by Kevin MacLean and owned by Reg MacPherson, has five wins from eight starts. The latest victory came at Northside Downs with a dazzling 1:57.1 performance. Marc Campbell gets the driving assignment.
There have been many special moments and events at the city track over the years. Red Shores will host a wedding party in the historic centerfield on Saturday. Katherine Banks and Matthew Bryson, along with all their guests, will entertain and celebrate their occasion complete with the Mr. & Mrs. Bryson Pace on Race 9. The bride and groom will be trackside for the picture presentation.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
Summerside Hosts Lady Slipper for Three-Year-Old Fillies Sunday
The three-year-old fillies will take centre stage in a 14-dash harness racing program Sunday at Red Shores’ Summerside. First-race post time will be at 1:00 p.m.
Woodmere Glamorous, owned by Lawson and Ken MacEachern, PE, is the top choice in the first grassroots competition (Race 4). Brodie MacPhee will drive for trainer Jackie Matheson who will send the filly out for her sixteenth start. It won’t be an easy assignment with Lyndale Delite going for her fourth win of the campaign for Kenny Arsenault, trainer Terry Affleck and owner David MacDonald of Belfast.
Pictonian Zena is the favourite in the other grassroots split for owner-driver Shane Bernard of Cornwall. The filly’s card has some impressive lines and boasts seven top-three finishes from 16 attempts. Alice Cooper will try to spoil the party off the rail for Corey MacPherson and the Kickin Horse stable of Stratford.
The afternoon program also features two gold divisions sporting an $11,500 purse for each class. Rose Valley, trained by Michael Campbell, N.B., will square off against Dianna Santanna in Race 9. John Holmes, who was also involved in a spill Thursday at Charlottetown, is listed to drive for trainer Tom Weatherbie and owner Doug MacPhee of Cornwall. The field has Windemere Maggie, Ask Dont Tell, Howmacs Angel and Kaitlins Kowgirl.
Misssassy Attitude, with Kenny Arsenault in the bike, is the classifier’s choice in the other Lady Slipper gold event. The daughter of Brandons Cowboy has banked $11,561 for Larry Chappell, Marshfield and trainer Ken Wilkie of Stratford. She lands with Western Judy (Marc Campbell) and triactor candidate Howmacs Princess off the rail for trainer Earl Watts. Largomotion, Lady Antebella, Top Brand and Charlottes Scarlet will also line up behind the gate in Race 12.
To view the harness racing entries for Sunday at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)