Make way for the Big Surf! The three-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere will make his PEI debut in the feature race Saturday at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
Post time for the 15-dash program is 1 p.m.
Big Surf was racing on Woodbine Racetrack’s seven-eighths-mile track in Toronto where he finished second in his last assignment in 1:52. The pacer also performed well on a half-mile track, winning in 1:55 over Flamboro Downs back in October.
Owner James Quinn of Vernon Bridge put his new purchase in the Marc Campbell stable. Campbell and Big Surf will start from Post 5 in Race 14 on Saturday. The gelding can get off the starting gate, so Campbell may have him right on the point to take charge of the nine-horse field.
Since Campbell has to drive his own trainee in the race, Forever Paradise will get the services of Corey MacPherson off the rail. The all-star line-up also includes two entries from the Foxyhall stable with Narragansett (PP2) and Astor (PP7) along with Tempo Seelster (to be driven by Vince Poulton), General Luckypercy (Ron Matheson), The Big Bite (Mike Stevenson), Cheyenne Ford (Kenny Arsenault) and Carnivore (Walter Cheverie).
Zip The Lip is back to compete in the Open Trot class in Race 3. The trotter has been on fire in 2014, posting 12 wins from 25 starts. Brian MacPhee will be in the bike for the appearance. MacPhee is on top of the standings in the Trot Challenge competition, presented by Johnston’s Salads and Keybrand Foods Inc. with 248 points. He is followed by Walter Cheverie with 204 points and Corey MacPherson with 183. The top driver with trotters at Charlottetown is presented with a trophy and a cheque at the end of the campaign.
The battle is still tight in the top driver standings at the city oval between Jason Hughes and Marc Campbell. Hughes heads into the meet with 115 victories, three behind Campbell at 118. The ‘Blue Knight’ has 11 assignments on the card, while Campbell is down to drive 12 on the program.
Customers are reminded of the Christmas food and toy hamper that will be set up in the main lobby of the CDP. The PEISHOA is asking patrons to drop off items and receive a ballot for a chance to win dinner for two in the Top of the Park.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)
If BIG SURF is as good as he
If BIG SURF is as good as he was at Woodbine, they wont beat him.