The up-and-coming East Coast driving crop has been whittled down to six after Gamester-Pinkney Memorial Cup preliminary action and it all comes down to Tuesday night’s final at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
With 12 races scheduled for a 7 p.m. start time in Charlottetown, a group of six top Atlantic Canadian drivers under the age of 30 will go head-to-head in a showcase of youth involvement in East Coast racing. The series is sponsored by Meridian Farms, Calgary, Alberta, Peter Francis Insurance Services, PEI and NS Harness Racing Industry Association and Red Shores.
Dont Ask Logan is the top choice from post six with Ryder Matthews-Rennison aboard for trainer George Rennison and owners Ian MacDonald, Basil Sherry and Andrea Rennison. The seven-year-old Truro invader was a winner in 1:57.1 earlier in the season in Charlottetown. Joining Rennison in the Nova Scotia born contingent is Brett Leblanc driving Oakrock Eldorado with rail control in his first start for the Oakes stable. Ultimatelyhandsome has post five in line to Saint John, N.B., native Kyle Mason while he is joined by fellow Port City resident Luke Armstrong aboard post two starter Electric Syl. The P.E.I. gang has Zach Conway with Shifting Views with post three and Arrived Late from post four for driver Taylor Doyle.
The competition named in honour of two outstanding supporters of youth in harness racing in the late Byron Gamester of Glen Valley, P.E.I., and Phil Pinkney of Lower Onslow, N.S., had elimination legs earlier in the season at the Summerside Raceway and the Truro Raceway with the top driver this Tuesday evening being awarded the Andrew Family Memorial Driving Award.
The "Post Time Picks" cautiously place Dont Ask Logan on top to get Rennison all the glory: “Judging by Dont Ask Logan’s recent lines, he’s not the safest play on the page but did look better in the qualifier at Charlottetown. Just a reminder, he won here earlier this year and could do it again tonight.”
The program also features the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two and three-year-old trotters in Races 2, 4 and 8.
The lone $17,560 Atlantic Sires Stakes two-year-old trot division in Race 2 will see Irish Ray attempt to remain undefeated against his five foes from post four for trainer/driver Marc Campbell and owner Three Wiseman Stable of Kingston, P.E.I.
Race 4 has Up Helly AA putting his 13-race win streak to the test in a $9,800 Atlantic Sires Stakes three-year-old trot division in line to Ken MacDonald for trainer Clare MacDonald and owner Riley Farms Ltd., of Summerside.
Headline Howie is selected as the top dog in the other $9,800 Sires Stakes sophomore split from post two for trainer/driver Mike McGuigan and owner Jamie Whalen of Avondale, P.E.I.
To view Tuesday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Tuesday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)