The Prince Edward Island Standardbred Horse Owner’s Association will present its annual driver’s challenge Saturday afternoon at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
The competition takes place in Races 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 on the 13-dash card. The ‘Horseperson’s Day’ program will kick off with a 1 p.m. first-race post time. The eight races will pit top dash-winning drivers Marc Campbell, Jason Hughes, Gilles Barrieau and Corey MacPherson against top percentage drivers with over 75 starts, Ron Matheson and Gary Chappell, and top percentage drivers with 40 to 75 starts, Terry Gallant and Vincent Poulton.
Competitors are based on statistics from January 1 to October 31 in Charlottetown and all competing drivers must be association members. Barrieau captured the E.F. Acorn trophy for having the most points and winning the 2013 edition.
The top pace on the program has been carded as Race 12. The dash will carry a purse of $1,600 and is the final race of the driving championship. Cambest Kisser is the morning line favourite from Post 4 for trainer-driver Jason Hughes and owners Donald and Steven MacRae of Vernon Bridge. The class-dropper will face top competitors Van Zant (to be driven by Ron Matheson), Brodys Leona (Corey MacPherson) and Blue Meadow Willie (Vincent Poulton).
The top trotting class on the card has been programmed as Race 8 and it is the Emmett and Albert Bernard Memorial, which carries a purse of $1,350. Osprey Strike will look for a repeat of last week’s victory in the class for owner-trainer-driver Paul Larabee of Belle River. The six-year-old son of Striking Sahbra will line up in Post 6 against tough trotters Pleasure Girls (Ron Gass) and Oceanview Kate (Hughes).
Race 2 is the $1,150 Alphonse Pineau Memorial. Dunmore Chance has been named the early favourite from Post 3 for driver Jack Panting and owner-trainer Ralph Annear of Montague. The Black River three-year-old was a winner last start in this class, but must face the class-dropping Open trotter Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault), who will start from Post 1.
Horse Person’s Day also features second-chance draws with uncashed pari-mutuel tickets being converted to ballots for Red Shores vouchers, turkeys and merchandise.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
SUNDAY
The top trotters on the east coast of Canada will do battle in Race 4 on the Sunday afternoon card at the CDP. The first contest on the 14-dash card will get underway at 1 p.m.
Open trot champion Zip The Lip is absent in this week’s $1,850 trot class, which leaves the door open for last week’s runner-up, Caliban Hanover, to pick up the pieces for trainer-driver Ron Gass and owner Wendell MacDonald of Cornwall. The six-horse field also includes Majian Dillon (Jim Ripley), Saulsbrook Balance (Willie Murphy), Warrawee Nuke (Kuri White), Diamond Mine (MacPherson) and Abundaspin (Steven Shepherd).
Race 7 is the $2,250 Fillies and Mares Open Pace. Heavy early favourite For All We Know has been assigned Post 6 in the field of a half-dozen scheduled starters. Chappell will drive the hulking mare for trainer Jackie Matheson and owner Bruce Wood of Marshfield. The field also includes Bunny Mach (Hughes), A Fiesty X Ample (Mark Bradley), General Luckypercy (Ron Matheson), Fleurje (Brian MacPhee) and JK Special (Walter Cheverie).
A field of nine tough overnight pacers will line up in Race 13 for a $2,100 purse, and Carnivore has been installed as the early favourite from Post 1 for driver Arsenault, trainer Marvyn Webster and owner Valleygrove Farm of Kensington. The eight-year-old son of Real Desire was a winner last week at the same level and will face top entries Narragansett (Hughes), The Big Bite (Thane Arsenault) and Rash B Havior (Cheverie) this time around. The field also includes Oh To Be Me (Chappell), Forever Paradise (Campbell), Shock The Rock (MacPherson), Machinthesand (Ken Murphy) and Mcjestic (Mike McGuigan).
To view the harness racing entries for Sunday at the CDP, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park .
(With files from Red Shores)