The horses make their weekday debut Thursday under the lights at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
I D K, owned by Gail MacDonald of Charlottetown and trained by her brother Gary Poulton, has been established as the morning line favourite (5-2) in the ninth race for catch-driver Danny MacDonald. The pacer set up some big fractions in his last race and faded in the lane, but he still paced his mile in 1:57.4. MacDonald will take him from post six as the son of Stand Forever–Magical Sum closes in on his 100th career start.
First Art Down has drawn the rail for trainer Cliff Murphy, owner Bruce Wood of Marshfield, P.E.I. and driver Ken Murphy. This guy took a shot at The Big Bite (Kenny Arsenault) in his last meeting and finished second by a neck. They will leave side by side for this match-up.
Lyndale Royal (Marc Campbell) and Windemere Eric (Gary Chappell) have also been entered.
Balanchine is back for another season. The racing superstar is coming off an impressive 2:00.1 qualifier where he fired a :28.4 closer. Jackie Matheson conditions the 11-year-old campaigner for owners Mike Pollard of Donagh, P.E.I. and Joey Gallant of Charlottetown. His career stats include 259 starts, 58 victories, 35 seconds, 31 third-place claims and earnings of $773,191.
The Matheson stable will also send out Perfect Escape, who is a top contender in the Best Western Pace in race 10 for owners Jack Keenan of Stratford, P.E.I. and Joseph Dahl of Burlington, Ont.
Caliban Hanover will be gunning for his first win of the spring meet when he takes on six rivals in the evening trot class (race two) for Ron Gass and owner Wendell MacDonald of Cornwall, P.E.I. The trotter goes up against a couple of Peconi stablemates with Howmacs Pride and Incredibility in the seven-horse field.
Post time for the 10-dash card is 7 p.m.
To view Thursday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Thursday Entries - Charlottetown Driving park.
(With files from Red Shores)