The field is set and the morning line favourites have been established in the feature event Saturday at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
Post time for the 15-dash program is 1 p.m.
The feature race is in honour of Charles MacDonald, who was born and raised in Orwell, PEI and passed away October 8, 2011. MacDonald’s grandson, Marc Campbell, has a shot of winning this race when he drives Machinthesand from Post 3 for Noonan Holdings Ltd- Russell and Karen Noonan, Middleton, PE. The son of Mach Three, listed as the second choice on the morning line (3-1 odds) behind the early favourite, Carnivore (5-2 odds), won his last start in 1:59.3. It won’t be an easy task against Carnivore (to be driven by Walter Cheverie), who charted his last assignment in 1:58.4 for trainer Marvyn Webster. Top guns Astor (Jason Hughes) and Cheyenne Ford (Kenny Arsenault) will also be in the mix. Campbell will try to work out a trip against the other contenders, which include rail sitter Tempo Seelster (Vince Poulton) and Perfect Escape (Ron Matheson). The feature is carded as Race 7 on the afternoon.
Hurrah, with trainer-driver Mark Bradley in the bike, has drawn the rail in Race 14. The colt, leased to ownership group Hurrah 4 Island Charities by Meridian Farms, has raised $10,562 for charities such as Autism Society, PEI 4H, PEI Special Olympics, Prince County Hospital Foundation, Ocean 100’s Toys for Tots and CBC Turkey Drive throughout his 2014 season.
The son of Shadow Play makes his 26th start of the season where this month his cheques will go to the Upper Room food bank. He’s in tough as he takes on Jackie Matheson’s stable stars Balanchine and Van Zant. Forever Paradise is entered and will need to rally from Post 8.
Pleasure Girls takes the spotlight in the trot class. The mare, owned by Shelly Gass, Cornwall, got roughed up a bit in her last outing, but managed a well-earned third-place finish for Ron Gass.
Don’t miss the Boxing Day card on Friday, December 26 at 1 p.m. with the New Year’s Eve presentation featuring a 7 p.m. first-race post time.
The 2015 live race schedule is outlined at redshores.ca with Saturdays in January running first-race post times at 12:30 p.m.
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)