Red Shores harness racing is getting revved up with three race cards this week, including Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Charlottetown Driving Park and the 2015 season opener at Summerside Raceway on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
The 11-dash Saturday card is headlined by the six-horse featured pace, which has been carded as Race 10 and carries a purse of $2,200. Tempo Seelster, who will start from Post 4, has been installed as the morning line favourite for owner-trainer-driver Vincent Poulton of Charlottetown. The five-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip was a winner two weeks ago in the same class, but fell short last week after having started from Post 7. Carnivore has drawn Post 6 for driver Walter Cheverie, trainer Marvyn Webster and owner Valleygrove Farms of Kensington. He is coming in fresh off a 1:56.4 victory in last Saturday’s feature. Top Maritime free-for-aller All Turain has Post 5 for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Trevor Hicken and owners Lee Hicken of Charlottetown and Perry Burke of Quebec. All Turain’s had an impressive 2014 season that included 12 wins, $28,347 in purses and a mark of 1:54. Other entries include Cheyenne Ford (to be driven by Kenny Arsenault), Cabo Pan Lucas (Daniel MacDonald) and My Lucky Killean (Gary Chappell).
The top trotters on the east coast of Canada will line up for Race 3, which will feature a purse of $1,500. Last week’s winner, Pleasure Girls, has been installed as the morning line favourite from Post 5 with MacPherson in the bike for trainer Ron Gass and owner Shelley Gass of Cornwall. Eat Pray Trot has drawn the rail and is coming in fresh off an impressive qualifier in Charlottetown where he was individually timed in 2:00.3 for driver Brian MacPhee and owner-trainer Ambyr Campbell of Charlottetown. The field also includes I Aint No Lady (Mike Stevenson), Honeymoonisover (Brian Andrew), Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault) and Presto Pegasus (Mark Bradley).
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
RED SHORES SUMMERSIDE SUNDAY
A 10-dash program will hit the track Sunday afternoon, as Summerside will open up for the 2015 live racing season.
A top-notch top-class will line up for Race 9. Outside The Wire has been named the morning line favourite and will start in Post 1 with Summerside’s leading dash-winning trainer and driver, Jason Hughes, at the lines. The six-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear is trained by Craig Avery for owners Andrew Avery of Freetown and John Brodrick of Alberta. New Brunswick invader American Captain has Post 4 for Island native trainer-driver Mike Campbell. Campbell has come to the Summerside Raceway from Fredericton, N.B., for the 2015 season. Other entries are Bowyer Hanover (Walter Cheverie), J Rs Hurricane (Gary Chappell), Darth Bader (Gilles Barrieau), and American Terror (Steven Shepherd).
The afternoon back-up class is Race 10 and Motorino is favoured early from Post 7 for trainer-driver Terry Gallant, who co-owns with Eric Johnston of Summerside. The four-year-old son of Brian P was purchased by the connections in last January’s mixed sale in New Jersey and has been impressive his first few starts on the Island, including a 1:58 victory last week in Charlottetown. Other top entries in the eight-horse field include Haunto (Barrieau) and D Bs Rosco (Kenny Arsenault).
Customers will be greeted to a list of new promotions, including the Super High 5, Pik 3 and Pik 4. On-track players will be offered the Pick 5, ‘Wild Horses’ tags on Races 2-10 with jackpots and ‘Set for Summer’ promo where customers have a chance to qualify to win weekly prizes with the grand prize of $1,000 a week for 10 weeks being drawn on the first day of summer, June 21, 2015.
To view the harness racing entries for Sunday at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)