Reinsmen Marc Campbell and Corey MacPherson are currently tied for top spot on the driving leaderboard at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park. The two foes will try to break the gridlock this Thursday evening.
Campbell will be seeking redemption in the $1,950 Open Horses and Geldings Trot, which has been carded as Race 8. He will guide Freddie from Post 3 for owner Three Wisemen Stable of Cornwall. The four-year-old had broken equipment at the beginning of his last start, which led to his three-race win streak being snapped.
Wedgewood and Gary Chappell will have rail control in the race for trainer Glenn Claybourne, while Frill Seeker (to be driven by Kenny Arsenault) and Zip The Lip (Brian MacPhee) loom as threats that will start from the two outside post positions. Diamond Mine (Willie Murphy) and Neal (Brian Andrew) complete the field of half-a-dozen.
The $2,100 evening pacing feature has been carded as Race 11. Bazillion will start from Post 1 for trainer Trevor Hicken, owner Kent Livingston of Cornwall and reinsman Brian MacPhee. The pacing gelding dominated last week at the CDP in 1:58.1 – he had started from Post 7 with driver Ed Harvey in Atlantic Regional Driving Championship. Bazillion is set to face another horse that was on top of his game for the championship, as Cambest Kisser (Jason Hughes) will start from Post 2. He is coming into the race fresh off a 1:57 victory. First Art Down has been installed as the morning line favourite from Post 6 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Clifford Murphy after having dropped out of the Preferred ranks for Thursday’s race. Other entries include Smiley Bayama (Ron Gass), Cabo Pan Lucas (Vincent Poulton), Starcastic (Ron Matheson) and Nogreatmischief (Walter Cheverie).
Another field of Open trotters will line up for Race 10. The dash will feature the top trotting mares on the east coast of Canada. Charlottetown and Summerside track record holder Thunderaway will start from Post 1 for trainer-driver Hughes and owner Foxyhall Racing of Nova Scotia. The seven-year-old daughter of Thunder Road won her latest start, which came against Open company, in 2:01.4. Pleasure Girls will return from action at Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ontario and has drawn Post 5 for trainer-driver Ron Gass and owner Shelley Gass of Cornwall. The veteran mare captured her last start in 1:58.1 over the Ottawa five-eighths oval.
First-race post time for the CDP’s 12-dash Thursday card is 6:30 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)