The best three-year-old pacers in the region have the first leg of the Maritime Triple Crown firmly in their sights with it all coming down to Saturday night at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
First race post time is 6:00 p.m. for the 12-dash program with the Maritime Breeders Finals lining up in races 9 and 12. The program also features the $100,000 Dash for Cash promotion for customers. Two customers will be selected to go for the cash.
Elektra Express has been nothing short of phenomenal so far in 2017 and draws Post 2 in the $23,600 Ken Starratt Memorial Maritime Breeders final for three-year-old pacing fillies, carded as race 9. The daughter of Western Paradise served notice that Dustlanemissmolly's 1:55 three-year-old filly track record could be in jeopardy at any given time after an under wraps 1:55.4 victory in her elimination. Ryan Ellis will the pilot morning line choice for owner Danica Ellis of Nova Scotia and trainer Marc Campbell, who has three entrants in the rich final. Campbell drove Elektra Express to her unbeaten record so far this season but will elect to drive Filly Forty Seven from Post 5 after winning the other elimination in 1:56.1. Gilles Barrieau will drive the other Campbell entrant, Elm Grove Ladyluck, from Post 8.
Bonzai Beach (Clare MacDonald) and Kinda Like Her (Kenny Arsenault) were both large in their eliminations, each finishing second. Other entries include Traces Of Purple (Walter Cheverie), Oceanview Beemer (Earl Smith) and Tobins Secret (Todd Trites).
The Doug Harkness Memorial Maritime Breeders Final for three-year-old pacing colts has more Campbell flavour, as Island Energetic is the favourite from Post 2 in the $21,400 event. 'The King' of Island racing, Campbell has an incredible record so far in 2017, winning 45 of 117 races prior to this Thursday's card. To put it in perspective, Corey MacPherson sits in second place among the driver's colony with just 18 wins. Island Energetic has been helping Campbell in the win department, as he has guided the son of Articulator to a six-race win streak and will again sit behind him in Saturday's final. Nameisonthehalter has the rail position at 3-1 on the morning line with Adam Merner picking up the drive for owner-trainer Lawrence Snow of Nova Scotia after finishing third to Island Energetic in his elimination. Other eliminations winner Ic A Free Spirit (Ernie Laffin) and Complete Player (Mark Bradley) have posts 4 and 7, respectively.
Also in the championship field is Cowboys Dont Cry (Jason Hughes), Carters Caper (MacDonald), Tobinator (MacPherson) and Ashes To Ashes (Barrieau).
The preferred pacers will clash again this week in race 11 for a $2,400 purse. Invictus Hanover is new on the scene is shouldered with the outside in the five-horse field. Hughes trains and drives the winner of $305,000 lifetime for owner Foxyhall Racing of Nova Scotia since the pacer was claimed for $20,000 at Yonkers Raceway in New York in December. With the addition of Invictus Hanover, Mr Irresistible loses his regular driver and gets the services of the track's leading reinsman, Campbell, from Post 4. Adkins Hanover has Post 3 with MacPherson at the lines while Heart And Soul (MacDonald) has rail control and Mach It Big (Brian Andrew) leaves from Post 2.
For entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown.
(with files from Red Shores)