Players with the PEI Rocket will be trackside for a special presentation during the 12-dash racing program Saturday night at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
First-race post time is 6:00 p.m.
Nobestbfor is the morning line favourite for driver Walter Cheverie in the PEI Rocket Pace in Race 7. The horse will make only his fifth start of the season, but his fourth-place chartline in 1:56.3 over Summerside puts him in contention. Skylark Hanover from the red hot Matheson stable has to maneuver from Post 7, but is considered a top play along with Blue Star Outlaw and Jason Hughes. The field is full of heavy hitters such as First Lady of Art, Zanzibar, Lucky in Love and Brief Bliss.
The evening’s feature race, presented by the Canadian Coast Guard Search & Recue, sees the return of Gold Cup & Saucer finalist All Turain. The three-year-old has been super impressive all summer which began with a third-place finish in the Governor’s Plate at Summerside. Regular pilot Marc Campbell is out of the province booked to drive on a stakes assignment at Northside Downs in Sydney, so trainer Trevor Hicken has called in Gary Chappell to drive from the rail for owner Lee Hicken of Charlottetown.
The race, which carries a purse of $2,200, includes IDK, a new edition to the Gary Poulton barn, Wellthereyougo, who was a solid third in his last start for Brodie MacPhee, Shock the Rock and Mark MacKinnon are capable of an upset while the fast closing Balanchine and Leading Camdidate complete the roster.
• ENTRIES - Charlottetown Driving Park - Saturday, September 22
O’Brien Stakes Highlight Red Shores Summerside Program Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Three divisions of the Joe O’Brien Stakes will go behind the starting gate Sunday afternoon at Red Shores Summerside. First-race post time is 1:00 p.m.
The Joe O’Brien gold division will go for $17,600 in Race 11 with the 'glamour boys' ready to roll, starring from the rail out: So Classy (PP1), Astronomical Union (PP2), Res Art (PP3), Kingdom Come (PP4), Dukes Up (PP5), Stimulus Bill (PP6), Mr Thompson (PP7) and Touch of Lightening (PP8). Touch of Lightening, who has won five in a row for driver Earl Smith, is favoured to win the class, but drew a bad post. The horse can leave the gate hard, so expect some fast opening fractions when the wings fold. It should be an exciting event.
Painted Pony gets the early nod in the O’Brien grassroots level in Race 5 for driver Marc Campbell. The Raymond White trainee has the most money made on his papers followed by rail sitter Smooth Talkin Dan and Same Old Story and Phil Hodgson who are in town from Fredericton, NB.
The second grassroots level in Race 8 has Ebandtheboys off the rail for veteran trainer Clarkie Smith and driver Walter Cheverie.
• ENTRIES - Summerside - Sunday, September 23
(With files from Red Shores)