After stringing together one of the richest seasons in the history of Atlantic Canadian harness racing, Woodmere Skyroller failed to hit the wire first in her inaugural trip to Open competition. She will look to rectify that Sunday afternoon (Nov. 29) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The Sunday presentation has 10 races scheduled with a 12:30 p.m. start time.
Woodmere Skyroller will leave from the outside post 5 in the $2,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace — carded as the ninth race — with David Dowling in the bike for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson. A winner of $85,051 this year in her three-year-old campaign, Atlantic champion Woodmere Skyroller cut out the mile on Nov. 15 over a sloppy track in her first Open Mares foray, but was mowed down in the stretch drive and finished third to Filly Forty Seven and Temagami Seelster.
Filly Forty Seven has post 3 on Sunday for trainer-driver Marc Campbell, while Temagami Seelster starts from post 4 with Kenny Arsenault in command of the reins from the Tom Weatherbie stable. Also in the field are Southwind Ion (Jason Hughes) and Lean On Who (Gilles Barrieau).
The Sunday Post Time Picks has Woodmere Skryoller in the win position:
“Woodmere Skyroller fell short as the heavy favourite her last start but that was a day that the front end was not a kind place to be. Had a short break after that start and now lands back in the Open ranks. It won’t be easy for this sophomore to go all the way but her 11 wins this season tells you she is no slouch.”
The afternoon finale will see a red-hot Smart Official take on seven foes from post 4 for a $2,500 purse. Barrieau drives the son of Art Official for trainer Peter Lanigan, who co-owns the pacer with Sandra Stead. Barrieau romped with Smart Official last week by eight lengths in 1:56.4 for the horse’s third win in his last four starts. Other top entries in that finale class are Flash In The Pang (Ken Murphy) and Hemingway (Adam Merner).
Tune into the worldwide broadcast at redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.
To view Sunday's complete entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Red Shores Charlottetown.
(Red Shores)