CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – A former great in Eastern Ontario harness racing will try his luck against Thursday night's finest at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
First race post is 6:30 p.m. for the 12-dash card with Montreal Phil favoured in the race 11 feature for a $2,000 purse. The 12-year-old veteran, Montreal Phil was a former preferred pacer at Rideau Carleton Raceway outside Ottawa, but after Alpine Claiming Series action during Old Home Week he now finds himself trained by Stratford's Patrick Shepherd and owned by Stephen Morton of Nova Scotia. The pacer pushed himself over $700,000 in career earnings during his latest outing, which was a 1:57.4 score for Brad Forward, and now finds himself with post 2 and Walter Cheverie in the bike.
Perfect Escape (Gilles Barrieau) looms a danger off the rail while riding a two-race win streak and Doing Some Damage (Corey MacPherson) exits preferred company to draw post 6. Ryan Desroche will make his top class debut on the program, as the 18-year-old Prince Country native drives Eagle Jolt from post 5 for trainer Marc Campbell.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac likes post 2 and Montreal Phil to land in the winner's circle.
"He beat some pretty good ones last week over the off track for his second straight win since relocating here," MacIsaac said of Montreal Phil. "A three-peat looks like a very strong possibility."
Other entries include Cambest Kisser (Jason Hughes), Waterside Light (Campbell), Athletic Putnam (Brian MacPhee), and Cabo Pan Lucas (Vincent Poulton).
A group of seven Open trotters will contest race 8 on the card, with newly minted Charlottetown track record holder Osprey Impact drawing post 3 with Cheverie in the bike for owner-trainer Paul Larabee of Belle River. The five-year-old daughter of Federal Flex scored a 1:57.2 victory on Gold Cup and Saucer night to erase Thunderaway's track record. Freddie (Campbell) will seek redemption off the rail with other top entries like Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault) from post 4 and Holy Molie Maggie (MacPherson) with post 5.
By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores