Hop Up has dominated Red Shores’ Open Trot over the course of the past month, but she will face her biggest test to date on Thursday evening (August 2) at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
First-race post time for the 12-dash card will be at 6:30 p.m.
Hop Up is heading into the $1,950 Open Trot (Race 8) with just one blemish in the last 30 days. Hop Up is scheduled to start from the rail for the dynamite duo of driver Corey MacPherson and owner-trainer Keith Campbell of Victoria West. The four-year-old daughter of Tad The Stud has recorded four wins in her last five outings, including the $2,500 Andrew Perry Invitational trot at Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway during Governor’s Plate Week.
Hop Up’s competition will stiffen this week, though, as the Thursday test will also feature the return of the previously-dominant Freddie, who will start from Post 4 for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Bo Ford. Isabella Hanover (to be driven by Adam Merner) captured the Open Trot over Hop Up lone defeat on July 19, but trainer Stephen Gass will remove the mare from the lasix program for her Thursday start. Isabella Hanover will start from Post 2 after having been outgunned in her last start.
Other Open Trot entries include Majian Tango (Jim Ripley), Wedgewood (Gary Chappell), Professor Gordon (Jason Hughes) and Holy Molie Maggie (Walter Cheverie).
The Uncle Pat McWade Memorial is the featured pace (Race 12), which will close out the card. Jackson K Down has drawn Post 4 after having demolished his competition in his last start. He will again have the services of driver MacPherson for trainer Stephen Mason. Nogreatmischief is the morning line choice from Post 3 for trainer-driver Cheverie, while last year’s two-year-old Red Shores’ Charlottetown track record holder, Half Cut, will have rail control for driver Mark Bradley and trainer Tom Weatherbie as he takes a break from three-year-old stakes action.
Race 10 will feature the Canadian National Oldtimers Baseball Federation pace. Bettim Vicky is the morning line choice from Post 1 for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Jeff Lilley.
Nikes Cowgirl will headline a tough group of mares in Race 9 for driver Campbell and trainer Ford in the Next Gen 2 Pace.
For more information, check out redshores.ca.
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)