CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – A field of the top harness racing horses in the Maritimes will butt heads in the Saturday afternoon feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The $2,800 preferred pace will line up in race 11 on the program with a 12:30 P.M. first race post time for the 12-dash card. Rose Run Quest has two-straight wins at this level and will leave from post 6 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown. The seven-year-old son of If I Can Dream is a 10-time winner so far this season.
Euchred ships in from Nova Scotia to trainer Nicholas Oakes and will have the services of Adam Merner in the drivers seat for owner Kayla Habicht Walker of Inverness, N.S. The Shadow Play seven-year-old was third against Rose Run Quest in his latest with a first-over effort after having won in 1:53.3 over Truro Raceway in the Johnny Conroy Invitational earlier this season.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac elects to side with Rose Run Quest for top spot.
"Rose Run Quest lost his crown for a few weeks but after back to back wins, he's top dog again," MacIsaac said. "It will take a big effort by one of his rivals to prevent a threepeat."
Also in the preferred field are Hes Marvalous (Driven by Myles Heffernan Sr.), Burn Out Hanover (Gilles Barrieau), Rockin Indy (David Dowling) and Screen Test (Corey MacPherson).
Race 9 on the card is the Best Risque Memorial Open Mares Pace for a $2,700 purse. Jordies Hope knocked off this group in her latest and will leave from post 5 this week for trainer and co-owner Brian Ladner and co-owners Kevin and Lillian Ladner of Charlottetown. Jason Hughes picks up the catch driving assignment. Other top entries include Imagine Speed (Dale Spence) and Traces Of Purple (Campbell).
The Saturday program was going to field eliminations of the Maritime Breeder's stakes for two and three-year-old trotters but they were not required with also horses entering advancing straight to next week's finals. The race office received seven entries in the three-year-old trot and five entries for the two-year-old trot.
Harness driver Dave Kelly will join broadcast host Peter MacPhee on the Inside Track. The interview segment will go to air at 12:05pm.
For live video and more go to www.Redshores.ca.
Cheverie Troops Favoured In Sunday Top Events
SUMMERSIDE, PE – After being shown open air, Nogreatmischief dispatched his featured foes last week and will look for more of the same this Sunday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The 11-dash program has a 1 P.M. first race post time with the top class hitting the track in race 10 for a $2,600 purse. The Walter Cheverie trained, driven and co-owned Nogreatmischief has post 6 in the field of as many fresh off a six-length victory his last start for co-owner Brian Thompson of Charlottetown. Mando Fun sliced out the fractions in that start and has post 2 on Sunday with Gilles Barrieau in the driver's seat. JJ Powerball (Driven by Myles Heffernan Sr.) has rail control in the top pace and will look for redemption after having a flat tire in his last outing.
The Backstretch Beat in Sunday's card pegs Nogreatmischief as the top entrant after his open-length score last week.
"Nogreatmischief toyed with his competition last week and as long as he doesn't leave himself with too much ground to make up you should expect a similar result," reads the beat.
Also in the field is Varadero Hanover (Driven by Ken Murphy), Mantario (Norris Rogers) and Best To Hurst (David Dowling).
The back-up class lines up in race 11 with Heart And Soul the morning line favourite riding a streak of 10 straight on-the-board finishes for trainer-driver Cheverie and owner Riley Farms Ltd., of Summerside. The Maritime Champion son of Western Paradise would go over $100,000 in career earnings with a win in his Sunday assignment. Other top entries include JK Cowboy (Dale Spene) and Flash In The Pang (Barrieau).
Badlands Giovanna rides a two-race win streak into race 2 on the card leaving on the outside in the compact field of five with Jason Hughes driving for trainer Jaycob Sweet, who scored a training double during the last card at the Prince County oval.
Owner, trainer and former race caller Alan MacDonald will join broadcast host Rocky Schurman on the Inside Track. The interview segment will air at 12:35pm.
Catch the action live at the track or tune into the worldwide broadcast at www.Redshores.ca.
By Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores