Zip The Lip, one of the most dominant trotters on the east coast of Canada during the 2014 season of live racing, is back to compete at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park this Saturday.
The CDP’s 12-dash Saturday program holds a first-race post time of 6 p.m.
Zip The Lip had an impressive resume last year, as he recorded 13 victories from 26 starts. He started off his 2015 pari-mutuel campaign on May 2 with a third-place finish. Brian MacPhee will be back in the bike for trainer Don Sweet and his co-owner, Orville Willis of O’Leary. They will have to overcome Post 8 and also keep a close eye on the morning-line favourite, Pleasure Girls, for red hot driver Corey MacPherson. MacPherson, who will drive for owner Shelley Gass, Cornwall, is coming off five winning drives over the first two cards. The action packed line-up also includes 7-2 morning-line choice Frill Seeker (to be driven by Kenny Arsenault) and the always dangerous Caliban Hanover (Ron Gass) from Post 2. The race will be called to the starter at 7:08 p.m. AST.
Tempo Seelster (Vince Poulton) and Carnivore (Walter Cheverie) will duke it out once again in the evening feature. These two have traded winner’s circle photos over the last two starts, but both will have outside posts for the Saturday showdown. The Poulton family will send out two other entries in the top class, as IDK has drawn the rail for catch-driver Mark Bradley and Cabo Pan Lucas has received the services of John Holmes. The $2,100 event also includes JRS Hurricane, DBS Rosco, Outside The Wire and My Lucky Killean.
In other action, Miracle Matts is the early favourite for the Valerie MacPhee Birthday Pace (Race 9) for MacPherson and owner Blois MacPhail, Cornwall, while Rymar Sporty and driver Ken Murphy have gotten the top call in the Maritime Greyhound Adoption Program Pace (Race 7). Owners, along with their adopted greyhounds, will be in attendance.
Red Shores is getting ready to officially launch a new ‘Drive for Charity’ promotion along with details surrounding A Fiesty X Ample running for Island charities this season. The mare will be trained and driven by Mark Bradley while being leased from the Bill Andrew stable. This is the second year in a row that the Andrew family has helped spearhead the fundraiser. Details regarding the charities will be released soon.
The Race Day network will add a new member this season. Bo Ford will join Lee Drake, Peter MacPhee and Jeremy MacDonald on the broadcast desk. The crew will join track announcer Vance Cameron for the 2015 meet at Summerside and Charlottetown locations.
Customers have several options with new promotions, including the Super High 5, Pik 3 and Pik 4. On-track players will be offered the Pick 5, Wild Horses tags on Races 2-12 with jackpots and Set for Summer promo where customers have a chance to qualify to win weekly prizes with the grand prize of $1,000 a week for 10 weeks being drawn on the first day of summer June 21, 2015.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)