A new racing series called the Island Pacing Championship, presented by Meridian Farms, will make its debut Saturday night at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
First-race post time is 6:00 p.m.
The series, which launches with two eliminations, has attracted the top horses in the region.
Eagle Luck has been assigned as the morning line favourite in the first elimination for driver Jason Hughes. The millionaire pacer is coming off a 1:56.2 victory and hasn’t missed the top three in his last three starts. Maritime star Arabica starts from Post 8 for driver Clare MacDonald, while top gun Joseph Michael ships in for trainer Eric Wilson who has Walter Cheverie handling the driving duties. The field is packed with power, with Carnivore off the rail and Le Fugueur, who’s won his last three in a row, gets the Island’s top driver, Marc Campbell. Half-mile specialists PH Bestman, Oakrock Almighty and War Cry Ranger, driven by Brian Andrew, go the gate in Race 11. The Andrew family has three entries in the pacing series. Brian, Bill and
Blake own War Cry Ranger, while Bill Andrew and Wayne Preszcator, trainer of
the late Part Shark and current co-track recorder, send out Every Day from
Post 4. Bill and Jay and Mary Jean Noye also co-own Lisfinny in the second
elimination.
Danny MacDonald, 38, will be in the bike with Every Day in the $5,000 race. Governor’s Plate winner Mcapulco is 5-2 on the morning line and for good reason. The Patrick Morris-owned pacer has toured the Maritimes with nine wins, two seconds and two thirds from 24 starts. He also has one of the hottest trainers with Jackie Matheson sporting a .344 average. Gilles Barrieau will be in town to drive but has to maneuver from Post 8. The line-up includes IDK (to be driven by Vince Poulton), Lisfinny (Norris Rogers), Balanchine (Walter Cheverie), All Turain (Marc Campbell), Wellthereyougo (Brodie MacPhee), Shock the Rock (Mark McKinnon) and Leading Camdidate (Jason Hughes). Expect lots of early speed as the top four move on to the final at next week’s Atlantic Breeders Crown.
Toughest of All is Favorite in Summerside Feature
Toughest of All, with Brad Smith in the bike, is the favourite heading into the Sunday afternoon top class at Red Shores Summerside. First-race post time is 1:00 p.m.
The five-year-old horse, owned by the Awesome Acres Standardbreds of Rockwood, Ont., toured the Prince County oval in an impressive 1:56.3 over a track rated 'good' by the officials. The track crew did an amazing job getting the track ready for last week’s O’Brien stakes after they were hit with heavy rains overnight.
Life Savior, from the Kevin MacMillan stable of O’Leary, is also a triactor candidate. Mark Bradley has picked up the catch-drive for regular pilot Marc Campbell, who is in Truro for the MacKenzie Stakes. Trainer Jean Belliveau has two entered with Sparky Bayama and BJ Cruiser starting from Post 5 and 6, respectively. Elm Grove Future, Ultimate Spirit and Milliondollarfeelin complete the line-up. Corey MacPherson will do the driving and teams-up with Campbell’s Concrete in the Drive for Charity Event.
Meanwhile, Rymar Sporty is back in to go after last week’s big victory in the Joe O’Brien Memorial. Ken Murphy will do the driving for Eric Doucette of South Rustico.
Blue Meadow Willie leads the field in the afternoon finale. The veteran has 35 lifetime victories and loves the roll on the back end of the mile. The fan-favourite is driven by Bob MacInnis who co-owns the pacer with his wife Brenda.
(Red Shores)