The Saturday evening feature promises to be a lively one at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park as it is jam-packed with top pacers who just met in Governor’s Plate elimination action two weeks ago in Summerside.
Saturday's 12-dash card gets underway at 6:00 P.M. with the featured pace, sponsored by McWade Racing, capping off the card in the finale. Invictus Hanover gets respect as the morning line favourite from post six with Jason Hughes training and driving for Foxyhall Racing of Wallace, N.S. The six-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser was a fifth-place finisher in the recent $22,000 Governor’s Plate Final, pacing in 1:55.3 -- a time that puts him in full contention with his Saturday rivals. Fellow Hughes trainee Jeb is fresh off a 1:55.1 victory and gets the services of Kenny Arsenault in the bike this week, while Smiley Bayama has post two for trainer-driver Ron Gass.
Not a single horse can be discounted in the field as Give Em Heck has previously defeated this group and gets the services of Brian MacPhee from post one. MacPhee’s daughter, Ambyr Campbell gets the catch-driving call on Trevor Hicken trainee Adkins Hanover from post five for Gordie Hennessey. Eagle Jolt has been ultra-consistent this year, with Ryan Desroche picking up the drive as trainer Marc Campbell is racing in stakes action in Truro, N.S.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac likes the chances of Invictus Hanover to defeat Saturday’s talented group.
“While this is a nice group they’re not quite up to the level of his usual opposition,” MacIsaac said of Invictus Hanover. “The post might curb your enthusiasm and while we’d prefer to see him on front, he’s got the versatility to handle any style so he gets top billing.”
The $2,250 Open Mares pace in Race 11 will see the return of Dixie Lullaby, who has been racing in Ontario the past two seasons after being one of the most talented two-year-old fillies the Maritimes has seen in recent years. The now four-year-old daughter of If I Can Dream was raised by Meridian Farms in Milton and was a recent winner in 1:53.4 over the half-mile oval at Grand River Raceway in Ontario, putting her into potential Charlottetown track record territory. Gary Chappell will drive Dixie Lullaby from post 8 for trainer Kyle Fellows of Ontario, who co-owns with Carl Stafford of Newfoundland And Labrador. Good Lucky Kathy has been installed as the favourite in the race with post 6 for driver Hughes and conditioner Jennifer Trainor.
The program also features the Clan MacPhail Reunion 2017 Pace in race six.
Check out redshores.ca for live video, race programs and promotional information including the $100,000 Dash For Cash promotion being offered again this weekend.
For entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(with files from Red Shores)