CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The leaderboard is tied at 38 wins each at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park but drivers Marc Campbell and Corey MacPherson will try to break the gridlock Thursday evening.
First race post time is 6:30 PM for the 12-dash card with Campbell seeking redemption in the race 8 Open Horses and Geldings Trot for a $1,950.
Campbell will guide Freddie from post 3 for owner Three Wisemen Stable of Cornwall, after the four-year-old had broken equipment at the start in his latest outing, snapping his three race win streak. Wedgewood and Gary Chappell have rail control for trainer Glenn Claybourne, while Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault) and Zip The Lip (Brian MacPhee) loom as real threats with the outside two post-positions. Diamond Mine (Willie Murphy) and Neal (Brian Andrew) complete the field of half-a-dozen.
The $2,100 evening pacing feature takes to the track in race 11 with Bazillion receiving the inside post for trainer Trevor Hicken, owner Kent Livingston of Cornwall and reinsman Brian MacPhee. The pacing gelding dominated last week in Charlottetown in 1:58.1 from post seven with Ed Harvey aboard in Atlantic Regional Driving Championship action. He faces another horse who was on top of his game for the championship, as Cambest Kisser (Jason Hughes) has post 2 fresh off a 1:57 victory.
First Art Down is installed as the morning line favourite from post 6 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Clifford Murphy after dropping out of the preferred ranks for this race.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac is taking a different approach for the Thursday evening feature, as he backs Eagle Jolt and trainer-driver Campbell from post 3.
"He was a little tardy off the gate last week but then he paced his own back half in better than 57 seconds and just got nipped at the finish," MacIsaac said of Eagle Jolt. "With him likely to get a better start from this improved post we'll treat him as the one to beat."
Other entries include Smiley Bayama (Ron Gass), Cabo Pan Lucas (Vincent Poulton), Starcastic (Ron Matheson) and Nogreatmischief (Walter Cheverie).
Another field of Open trotters line up in race 10 with the top trot mares on the East Coast. Charlottetown and Summerside track record holder Thunderaway has the rail for trainer-driver Hughes and owner Foxyhall Racing of Nova Scotia.
The seven-year-old daughter of Thunder Road won her latest start in Open company in 2:01.4. Pleasure Girls returns from action at Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ontario and draws post 5 for trainer-driver Ron Gass and owner Shelley Gass of Cornwall. The veteran mare captured her last start in 1:58.1 over the Ottawa five-eighths oval.
For race programs, top picks and live broadcast go to www.redshores.ca
By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores