The top guns are in town Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, with divisions of the Spud Island Classic and an Invitational Pace highlighting the 14-dash card.
Governor’s Plate champion D GS Camme has drawn the rail in the 7th race Invitational with Gilles Barrieau driving for trainer Jackie Matheson and the ownership team of Tom Clark, Ron Matheson, Quentin and Hal Bevan. The two-time plate winner rallied to a fourth place finish after enduring traffic problems in the Exhibition Cup last month at Truro Raceway. The son of Somebeachsomewhere will leave from post 5 for Marc Campbell while stablemate All Turain, a second place finisher in the cup at Truro, drew post six for regular pilot Corey MacPherson.
The starting grid is packed with speed with R Caan (Terry Gallant), Mach It Big (Walter Cheverie), The Rev (Danny Romo) and Im Drinkin Doubles (Marc Whebby). Many of the railbirds are hoping this is a prep for the Gold Cup & Saucer but nobody will know for sure until the nomination deadline closes at 3:00 p.m. AST on Monday, August 10.
It could be a big night for Barrieau and Team Matheson. The top driver of Governor’s Plate week in Summerside is booked on two more favorites from the Matheson stable with General Luckypercy and For All We Know down as the morning line favorites in their respective divisions of the Spud Island Classic, presented by PEI Potato Farmers.
The first leg will go to post at approx. 8:34 p.m. with red hot Ramblinglily gunning from the outside post 8 for Walter Cheverie and trainer Allan Jones. The mare has five wins from seven starts. The field also includes Scotian Lass (Dale Spence), Ding (Michael McGuigan), Brodys Leona (Corey MacPherson), Whitesand Artist (Neil Bambrick), Bunny Mach (Jason Hughes) and Kendal Gucci (Kenny Arsenault).
The second match-up has Rose Valley (Arsenault), Dirt Track Momma (Marc Campbell), Stayoutofmyaffair (Hughes), Fleurje (MacPherson), Best Risque (Gary Chappell), Romance In Camelot (Terry Gallant) and Bettim Jenny (Jeff Lilley).
First race post time is 6:00 p.m. To view the entries for Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Red Shores Charlottetown.
(with files from Red Shores)