This weekend’s programs of live racing on P.E.I. are all set to go, as Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside Raceway will each be hosting live cards.
Top Pacers Clash In Charlottetown
A trio of former Governor’s Plate hopefuls will square off in Saturday evening action at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
First-race post time for the nine-dash program is 6 p.m.
Forever Paradise is the morning line choice in the card’s $2,200 feature (Race 8). Mike McGuigan will perform the driving duties for trainer Kevin MacLean and owners Reg MacPherson and David and Aaron MacKenzie. The Post 3 starter was second in his last race, which was the $5,000 Governor’s Plate consolation at Summerside Raceway (he failed to advance to the final in the eliminations the week previous). Narragansett captured that consolation race and has drawn Post 4 this week for owner Foxyhall Racing of Nova Scotia and trainer Jason Hughes, who will be competing in stakes action in Nova Scotia Saturday evening, thus leaving the catch driving call to Gary Chappell.
The other former Governor’s Plate consolation starter is Doing Some Damage, who has drawn Post 5 after a third-place finish to Narragansett and Forever Paradise last week. He will have Brian MacPhee in the bike for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Kent Livingston of Cornwall.
Other entries include Eagle Jolt (to be driven by Marc Campbell) and All Turain (Leonard McGuigan).
The evening’s ‘back-up pace’ will head to post for Race 9. Warrawee Phoenix has been handed a heaping pile of class relief for his Saturday assignment. Owned and trained by Anthony Stymest, the five-year-old son of Camluck raced last Saturday in the $22,000 final of the Governor’s Plate and now drops into a $1,900 conditioned class. He has drawn Post 4 and Gordie Hennessey will be filling in in the driving department for regular pilot Mark Bradley, who will be competing in Nova Scotia. Other top contenders in Race 9 include First Art Down (Ken Murphy) and Cabo Pan Lucas (Vincent Poulton).
The former leading driver in Newfoundland harness racing will be making a rare appearance on P.E.I., as Shane Forward is scheduled to drive horses owned by his family in Races 1 and 7 on the card.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
Machinthesand Looks To Remain Red Hot
The outside post in a field of fast pacers can often be a major deterrent, but after the monstrous trip this Sunday’s Post 7 feature starter unleashed last week, he may not be worried.
Machinthesand has the outside post position against a field of seven top-class pacers at Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway.
First-race post time for the 10-dash program is 1 p.m.
Norris Rogers is scheduled to drive Machinthesand, who is fresh off a devastating 1:55.3 performance for trainer Hughie Murphy and owners Noonan Holdings and Russell and Karen Noonan.
Likely To Win will start from Post 2 in the $2,200 contest, and is coming in fresh off a 1:55.4 victory during Governor’s Plate Week racing at Summerside. Corey MacPherson will be back in the bike for trainer Adam Merner and owners Jeffrey Campbell of Alberta and Blenise Young and Lester Campbell of Nova Scotia.
Other entries include Rash B Havior (Marc Campbell), Motorino (Jason Hughes), Oh To Be Me (Gary Chappell), J Rs Hurricane (Kenny Arsenault) and Painted Desert (Ryan Desroche).
The afternoon ‘back-up event’ (Race 5) will feature a field of six mares, including Hurricane Hill, who has been favoured early to triumph in the $1,800 event. Corey MacPherson is scheduled to be in the bike. Favourable early odds have also been assigned to Onehotvett (Desroche) and Sam (Hughes).
To view the harness racing entries for Sunday at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)