Officials at Red Shores have sent out a preview of this weekend’s cards of live racing at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Please note that the CDP switches to a Saturday-Sunday afternoon schedule for the rest of November with 1:00 p.m. first-race post time each day.
Narragansett seeks repeat of crushing performance in Red Shores preferred
Sunday afternoon has 13 dashes set to go, and Narragansett will look to repeat in the $2,200 Preferred Pace (Race 12) after having won in 1:55 his last start for new trainer-driver Jason Hughes. Narragansett has the outside Post 6 in the field of a half-dozen for owner Foxyhall Racing Stable of Wallace, N.S. The runner-up in that last performance, Machinthesand, has Post 5 for driver Brodie MacPhee, while Big League (to be driven by Corey MacPherson) is a top selection from Post 4. Even though they have outside posts, Narragansett and Machinthesand tend to use off-the-pace tactics, and will likely have to battle past front-end specialist Big League. The Jonah Moase-trained Big League will be looking for redemption after having had that pair wear him down in his last start, where he finished third in that Narragansett victory. Other entries include Ultimate Luck (Kenny Arsenault), Lucky Encounter (Norris Rogers) and Bunny Mach (Gary Chappell).
A field of eight Open trotters will put their noses on the gate for Race 4 with arch-rivals set to go at it again. Abundaspin has Post 2 for trainer-driver Harold Shepherd and owner Mikaela Lustic of Warren Grove, with Zip The Lip having drawn Post 5 for driver Brian MacPhee, co-owner and trainer Donald Sweet and co-owner Orville Willis, both of O’Leary. Abundaspin was dominant in the Open ranks earlier in the season, but Zip The Lip has defeated him in three of their last four meetings. Other entries in the field are Sandhill Angel (Arsenault), Diamond Mine (Willie Murphy), Majian Chester (Jim Ripley), Lyrical Lindy (MacPherson), Wonderous Hanover (Brian Andrew), and Caliban Hanover (Ron Gass).
Race 9 has the $1,750 back-up pace with Roscoes Child favoured off the rail for driver Brodie MacPhee, trainer Raymond White and owner Selkirk Stable of Belfast. His main competition in the deep field will be Tempo Seelster (Vincent Poulton) from Post 9, Pinner (Cheverie) with Post 6 and the Stephen Quinn trained duo of Libertys Art (Hughes) and Stayoutofmyaffair (Arsenault) with Post 2 and 3, respectively. Other entries include EF Fantasia (Brian MacPhee), Every Day (Andrew), Brodys Leona (MacPherson) and Painted Desert (Terry Gallant).
To view the harness racing entries for Sunday at the CDP, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
Saturday
Freddy My Boy is the classifier’s choice off the rail in the Race 12 feature Saturday afternoon with Brodie MacPhee in the bike for co-owner and trainer Trevor Hicken of Montague and co-owner Diane Crossman of Saint John, N.B. The six-year-old son of Western Success has won his last three starts since moving to trainer Hicken, including his last two in 1:56 and change. His competition comes from second choice Blue Meadow Willie (Cheverie) and third selection Doll R General (Mark McKinnon). Also in the field is Panacotta (Blaine Baglole), Scootin For Joy (Mike Stevenson), Blue Star Outlaw (Hughes) and PC Shockwave (Chappell).
Race 4 has the $1,100 trot class with Dunmore Alpha favoured from Post 6 with owner-trainer-driver Ted Smallwood. Other top entries include Incredible Her Bee (McKinnon), and Bert Honkoop trainees BJ Eldorado (Arsenault) and BJ Carmalyta (Cheverie).
The $1,550 back-up pace has Le Fugueur selected with Post 9 for driver Marc Campbell, trainer Darren Trainor and owner Jennifer Trainor of Earnscliffe. He will have to fight off a challenge from newcomer Mcjestic with MacPherson in the bike for owner-trainer Troy Murray. The four-year-old son of McArdle was racing the claiming ranks in Ontario for trainer Ben Baillargeon. Also in the field is Isleofpalms (Quinn), EF Fantasia (Brian MacPhee), Leading Camdidate (Hughes), Camcun (Arsenault), Bowyer Hanover (Cheverie), Teddy Place (Brodie MacPhee), and McMaverick (Ken Murphy).
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)