The top two sophomore pacers in Atlantic Canada have avoided each other so far in 2018 but their much anticipated match-up will happen Saturday night in Maritime Breeders final action at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 12-dash Saturday card kicks off at 6:00 P.M. with the Doug Harkness Memorial Maritime Breeders Final for three-year-old pacing colts lining up in race 11.
Half Cut and Sock It Away are both perfect from three starts this season while drawing into different divisions every week. That ends Saturday as Half Cut will leave from post 6 in the $18,000 final for driver Mark Bradley as the morning line favourite. Tom Weatherbie trains the son of Stonebridge Terror for owners Kyle and Joseph Gardiner, Jerry MacKinnon, and Mike Currie.
Sock It Away was unlucky again on draw day with his undefeated streak on the line from post 8 in the Championship final. Marc Campbell drives the Summerside Raceway track record holder for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford.
Other entries in the final include Woodmere Ideal Art (Jason Hughes), Dustylanewesty (Clare MacDonald), Tobins Lightning (Kenny Arsenault), The Colonel (Gilles Barrieau), Rockin Party (Danny Romo) and Dowahs Boy (Adam Merner).
The Ken Starratt Memorial three-year-old pacing filly Maritime Breeders Final hits the track in race 9 for a $22,100 purse. Royaltywestho is the presumptive favourite from post 3 fresh off an easy 1:57.4 victory in her elimination for driver Walter Cheverie, co-owner and trainer Joe Baxter and co-owner Gregory Francis of Windsor, N.S. R Es Shabla had the faster elimination win with a time of 1:56.3 but draws post 7 for driver Mike McGuigan, trainer Leonard McGuigan and owner Lloyd Parsons of Carmanville, N.L. The field is completed by Saulsbrook Coral (David Dowling), Woodmere Saphire (Corey MacPherson), Woodmere Ceilidh (MacDonald), Kahlua Morning (Jason Hughes), Chocolate Terror (Darren Crowe) and Woodmere Chella (Barrieau).
The preferred pace lines up in race 10 for a $2,650 pot as the top pacers in the Maritimes prep for next week’s Cecil Ladner Memorial Invitational. Euchred is the morning line choice from the rail with Merner in the seat for trainer Terry Gallant and owner Kayla Habicht Walker of Inverness, N.S. Other top entries include Ashes To Ashes (Barrieau) and Rose Run Quest (Campbell).
The card also features the kick off of $100,000 Dash For Cash where you spend $10 or more on a single wager and receive a ballot for a chance at the grand prize. Two lucky patrons will be picked each night and asked to select the complete order of finish of a eight horse race late in the program. Patrons have until race 9 to get their ballots.
For entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(with files from Red Shores)