On Friday night, Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park will play host to the second leg of the PEI Trotting Series, sponsored by the PEIHRIA.
The 12-dash card will get underway at 7 p.m.
Fresh off tying the overall track trotting record last week at Red Shores’ Summerside in the first leg of the PEI Trotting Series, Frill Seeker will look to bring that form into Race 9. The six-year-old Angus Hall gelding is two for three since arriving on red soil. His only mishap came in his only start at the capital city oval in Charlottetown, where he made a miscue behind the gate and never made it into the race. The Post 6 starter is owned by the Ebbsfleet Stables. Kenny Arsenault handles the driving and training duties.
Zip The Lip has been installed as morning line choice for owners Orville Willis and Donnie Sweet, who also does the training duties on the Ken Warkentin gelding. Zip The Lip has finished in the top three in nine out his 12 starts this season. The ageless wonder Abundaspin has drawn the rail for trainer-driver Harold Shepherd. The 14-year-old has 13 top-three finishes this season, including six victories. Diamond Mine, Majian Dillon, Who Took That and Caliban Hanover complete the competition.
Race 6 will play host to the other division. Last week’s other winner, Pleasure Girls, has been saddled with the outside Post 7 for veteran trainer-driver Ronnie Gass. Owned by Shelley Gass, the daughter of Dr Ronerail returned to the races from the breeding shed earlier this year. The mother of three was a winner in 2:01 in Leg 1.
Newcomer Beer Maggs has drawn Post 1. The Quebec invader was not entered into the first leg of the trotting series. Charles Gaudreault has taken his stable to Charlottetown for Old Home Week and brought the six-year-old daughter of Have A Beer with him. She comes in off of a third-place finish in her last outing, where she trotted a mile in 1:58.2.
Last week’s odds-on favourite to upset Frill Seeker, Mopey Corey, has drawn Post 4 in Race 6. He made his first start on P.E.I. last week and finished second for owner Amanda Riley and trainer Tommy Riley. Corey MacPherson will reunite with his namesake for the second time. Mopey Corey was named by Islander Anthony MacDonald. He named the horse after MacPherson, who was working for MacDonald at the time in Ontario, as the horse and driver had similar characteristics. Saulsbrook Balance, I Aint No Lady, Lyrical Lindy and Saulsbrook Fork round out the field.
The Blair Kelly Memorial has been carded as Race 10 and it could have a very fitting end. J V S Ring is listed as the morning line favourite for owners Joey Gallant and Mike Pollard. The seven-year-old son of Cammibest is trained by Jackie Matheson. Marc Campbell will drive. Kelly had many horses stabled at the Matheson stable over the last number of years. He raised many yearlings under the Rivervue name, including Rivervue Skye, Rivervue Sandy and Rivervue Comet.
A pair of win streaks will be laid on the line in the evening feature (Race 12). Lyndale Royal comes into the event on a three-race win streak which included his triumph in the Kelti Burnet Memorial. Dale Spence will drive for owner-trainer Jonah Moase. Post 6 starter Leading Camdidate will look to stop Lyndale Royal's streak at three and extend his own to three. He has picked up back-to-back victories for Campbell. This week Mike Stevenson will drive.
To view the harness racing entries for Friday at the CDP, click the following link: Friday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)