The 2024 harness racing season will kick off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Rollwithhottytoddy will seek the top prize in his Saturday assignment, a $3,300 conditioned-claiming pace and one of the afternoon's top events.
Mantario is the morning line favourite in the 14th race from post six with newly relocated driver Damian MacLellan back in the seat for trainer Jennifer Doyle and owner Danny Birt. The now eight-year-old son of Sportswriter was an open-length winner on New Year’s Eve at Red Shores Charlottetown with MacLellan in the race bike.
Rollwithhottytoddy is a top play from post four with Myles Heffernan Sr. in the race bike for trainer Trevor Hicken. The five-year-old son of Rollwithitharry was a winner in 1:54.2 on Dec. 17 in line to Marc Campbell, who is taking the rest of the winter meet off from driving, then the pacer finished second his last start to Blood Money.
David Dowling gets the drive on Blood Money as regular driver Gilles Barrieau has also indicated he will not be driving for the rest of the winter meet, which is scheduled to end on Feb. 2. The Ron Matheson-trained Blood Money has post five in the class at 3-1 morning line odds.
Also in the field are Three Trick Gainer (Adam Merner), Pictonian I Am (Ken Murphy), Cheekie Play (Corey MacPherson) and Laughagain Hanover (Jason Hughes).
The "Post Time Picks" has selected Rollwithhottytoddy on top: “Rollwithhottytoddy rolled to a front-end score two back and finished a close second in his latest after backing down the second quarter. He'll be tough to beat if Myles lets him roll on the front today.”
Race three is the featured $3,400 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace with the Hughes trainees of post four starter Sugar Bowl (Mark Bradley) and post five entrant Acefortyfour Dome (Hughes) favoured.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)