A week of unseasonably warm weather will extend the Winter racing meet by one day at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The last card of the season was set for Saturday afternoon at 12:30 P.M. but will be moved to Sunday afternoon with a 2:00 P.M. start time in hopes of finding some firmer footing.
The Sunday afternoon feature will line up in the ninth race of the day for a $2,850 purse. Gilles Barrieau will drive race favourite Bugsy Maguire from Post 5 after winning last week’s feature in 1:57. Wade Sorrie trains the Governor’s Plate champion for owner Walter Simmons of Summerside. Bugsy Maguire was unheeded for the duration of last week’s contest and will have to dispose of four foes for a repeat. Chocolate Swirl was second in that event after winning the top class the two weeks previous. Jason Hughes will drive that pacer for trainer Jennifer Doyle. Pictonian Storm (Gordie Hennessey) has rail control from the Sorrie stable while Winter Blast (Kenny Arsenault) has Post 2, also for trainer Doyle. Rockin Indy and Corey MacPherson will leave from mid-pack after hitting the board in his last six starts for conditioner Troy Murray.
Peter MacPhee with The Post Time Picks expects some big things from Bugsy Maguire again this week. “Bugsy Maguire was put on the front last time and was a gate to wire winner closing in a snappy :28.2,” MacPhee said. “He gets post five this week and if they control it again could close the winter meet with back-to-back wins.”
Woodmere Chella romped by open lengths in last week’s Fillies and Mares Open pace and will attempt more of the same in that class, slotted as Race 7. MacPherson drives the Ron Gass-trained daughter of Articulator for owner Valleygrove Farms of Kensington. Berazzled (Arsenault) rallied to finish second last week in her first start since October and has Post 5 on Sunday.
Painted Pony is the favourite in the sxth race, the Red Shores Charlottetown Pace with MacPherson at the controls for trainer Raymond White while Babbling -- who will be featured in the pre-game show on the Race Day broadcast after reeling off four wins in a row -- will be back in to start in Race 4 for trainer Michael Dowling and owners Michael Arnold of Olds, Alberta and Amy Lakie of Montague, PE.
For more information go to Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)