The stage is set for five of the region's top harness racing guns in the evening feature Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. Post time for the 11 dash card is 6pm.
First Art Down (Ken Murphy) has drawn the rail in the race 7 showdown which promises to be a triactor mystery with all the competitors capable of hitting the ticket. Big Surf (Marc Campbell) has been established as the morning line favorite (5-2) after that season winning debut last week over a sloppy track. Weather conditions will be perfect at the 7:43pm post time with many expecting to see the Trevor Hicken trainee bust the gate. He'll have company. Forever Paradise (Michael McGugian) can follow the car while Clic K is back in the mix from the Jackie Matheson stable. Gilles Barrieau has the driving assignment. Tempo Seelster(Vince Poulton) starts from post 3.
Best Risque is sharp. The nine-year-old mare, trained by Brian Ladner, Charlottetown, has won seven of her last eight starts and is favored to win the open mares class. Regular pilot Corey MacPherson drives his trainee Brodys Leona (pp2) so Ladner was able to get the services of Campbell. Ramblinglily is back in town to compete in the $2,200 event. Walter Cheverie guides her from post 4. Sam (Jason Hughes) and Bettim Jenny (Jeff Lilley) make up the rest of the field.
For entries, top picks and live video go to www.redshores.ca
New season underway Monday at Red Shores Summerside; Silverhill Shadow gets top call in afternoon feature
The 2016 harness racing season will be launched Monday afternoon at Red Shores Summerside. The legendary Prince County oval celebrates 130 years of racing. Post time is 1pm.
Motorino lands on the pylons for trainer-driver Terry Gallant in the race 9 presentation with his stable-mate Silverhill Shadow leaving one slot to the right for catch-driver Gary Chappell. The son of Shadow Play was scratched from his last race but Gallant has him back in to go and shows an impressive 1:56.1 chart-line from May 7th. The roster also includes Cambest Kisser (Jason Hughes), DBS Rosco (Kenny Arsenault) and Carnivore (Walter Cheverie).
Veteran campaigner Life Savior leads the post parade in the back-up class in race 12. A winner of $101,376 and closing in on his 60th lifetime victory, the 11 year-old makes his season debut for trainer Duane MacEachern, owner Darla MacEachern and driver Corey MacPherson. He's in tough with Ralph Sweet's Casimir Luciano, Oh To Be Me and Bowyer Hanover listed as triactor candidates.
The official countdown to the Governor's Plate starts Monday at 1pm with fan prizes to the first 150 customers starting at Noon.
A new Backstretch Beat reporter has been added to the race program this season. The top picks can also be found at www.redshores.ca
Lee Drake