Another big weekend for Prince Edward Island harness racing is here once again. On Saturday, Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park will play host to one of the longest running stakes events on P.E.I. ‘Double-Header Saturday’ will feature the PEI Colt Stakes.
Action will get underway at 1 p.m. and the evening card will kick off at 7 p.m.
The two-year-old pacers will be in action on the afternoon card with four divisions each of colts and fillies. The highlight on the program has been carded as Race 6, which will see three of the best colts the Maritimes do battle for a purse of $6,100.
Dixieland Band is the morning line favourite from Post 7. A winner last week in the Atlantic Sire Stakes in 2:00.1, the son of Ameripan Gigolo is winning at a 50 per cent clip this season. Gilles Barrieau will do the driving for owners Reg MacPherson, David Mackenzie and Aaron Mackenzie. Kevin Maclean is the trainer.
He will have to do battle with Proven Desire from Post 8. The son of Proven Lover was edged out by a nose last week by Dixieland Band. Post 5 starter J J Romeo, also a son of Proven Lover, has drawn Post 5. He was also a winner in the Atlantic Sire Stakes at Inverness last week in 2:00. The colt divisions have been carded as Race 4, 9 and 12.
Dusty Lane Bria headlines the four filly divisions. She will start from Post 3 in Race 2. A winner of five races from six starts this season, her only defeat came after making a break before the start of one of her races. The daughter of Ameripan Gigolo is owned by Kenny Wilkie and Larry Chappell. Kenny Arsenault will drive. The $5,800 filly divisions have been carded as Race 5, 8 and 11.
The evening card will feature four divisions of three-year-old pacing colts and five divisions of three-year-old pacing fillies.
The three top fillies have found themselves in different divisions this weekend. This year’s Maritime Breeders Champions, Lovineveryminute will start from Post 2 in Race 6. Race 8 will see Saulsbrook Alana start from Post 5, fresh off a victory in the final of the $13, 016 Maritimer stakes. The third filly, Elm Grove Inarush, will line up behind the gate for Race 10. She has also drawn Post 5. The other filly divisions have been carded as Race 1 and 3
Race 7 will see a pair of colts put their three-race win streaks on the line. The early advantage will go to Arties Magic (Post 1, Todd Trites). He comes in off of a 1:58.2 score at Fredericton Raceway. Woodmere Rondevous drew into Post 5. He was a winner in his last outing in 1:57.1 at the CDP. The rest of the colt races have been carded as Race 4, 9 and 12.
The card also features two divisions of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series. The Race 2 Fathers of Confederation Descendant Pace features General Luckypercy, Ramblinglily and Stayouofmyaffair. The second $3,278 leg has been carded as Race 5 and features Icandothat and For All We Know.
The feature race (Race 13) hosts some of the best stock the Maritimes has to offer. All Turain has drawn Post 6 and is fresh off a victory in the Jennie and Joe Chippin at Fredericton Raceway. He will go up against Ultimate Luck, Modern Xhibit and Astor.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday’s afternoon and evening cards at the Charlottetown Driving Park, please click the corresponding links which appear below.
NARRAGANSETT HEADLINES SUMMERSIDE FEATURE
A solid looking top-class will headline the Sunday afternoon card at Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway.
First-race post time will be 1 p.m.
Narragansett has been listed as the morning-line favourite from Post 5 for Foxyhall Racing of Wallace, NS. A winner in 1:54.3 three starts back, he has five wins this season from 19 starts. The five-year-old gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover races out of the Jason Hughes stable. Hughes currently sits fourth among UTR trainers in Canada with a .364 average. Hughes will also handle the driving duties.
Narragansett will have to do battle with Eagle Jolt, a second place finisher in his last two races. The seven-year-old son of Village Jolt will look to shake the monkey off of his back from Post 6. He will get the driving services of Red Shores Summerside's leading driver, Marc Campbell, who also handles the training duties for owners Wilbur and Marie MacDonald.
Veteran free-legged pacer Blu Meadow Willie will have his work cut out for him from Post 8, but the 10-year-old will look to find himself back into the winner’s circle on his home track. After four straight starts in Charlottetown, in which he recorded two firsts, a second and a third, 'Willie' will return home and once again receive the driving services of Walter Cheverie. Bob MacInnis does the training and also co-owns with his wife, Brenda. Carrera Angel will look to keep his win streak alive from Post 3 for owner, trainer and driver Rocky Schurman. Pictonian Press, Blissful Bro, Dance Hanover and McMaverick complete the power-packed field.
Summerside native Gary Chappell sits two wins away from career win number 2,500 heading into the weekend cards at both Red Shores’ Charlottetown and Summerside, He will look to pick up 2,500 with nine drives on the card Sunday.
To view the harness racing entries for Sunday at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)