CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The open trot has been hotly contested all season at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park but Thursday evening looks like some relief for former champion Freddie.
The 10-dash Thursday card kicks off at 6:30 P.M. featuring the Open trot and the Alpine $5,000 claiming series.
A compact field of five contest the race 7 Open trot for a $2,250 purse. Freddie leaves from post 5 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston. The seven-year-old Majestic Son trotter has recorded five wins and four seconds from 11 seasonal outings and will not have to contend with Majian Tango or Star Photo this week in the top trot.
Hop Up will be the major threat to Freddie on Thursday evening as driver Corey MacPherson guides the Keith Campbell trained daughter of Tad The Stud from post 4 fresh off a second place finish race timed in 1:59.4. Also in the field is Suicide Shift (Driven by Steven Shepherd), Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault) and Scary Good (Gilles Barrieau).
Race 6 is the Grant Thornton pace with Bettorthanbobbi riding a two-race win streak into post 1 as the morning line favourite in the $1,800 event. Mark Bradley will drive the two-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar for trainer Tom Weatherbie and owner Ian Smith of Charlottetown.
The Alpine $5,000 claiming series has a pair of divisions on the program both boasting $1,900 purses in races 8 and 10.
Preferred Pacers Battle On Old Home Week Opener
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Old Home Week 2019 officially kicks off Friday evening with a 10-dash presentation at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The busiest week of the year in Atlantic Canadian racing has its official beginning on the Friday evening card with first race post time at 6:30 P.M.
The top event of the evening is the race 9 preferred 2 pace styled the Dr. Blair Kelly Memorial pace sponsored by the Charlottetown Vet Clinic. Red Magician comes into the $2,750 event fresh off a 1:55.2 victory at Red Shores Summerside off of a pocket ride and gets post 1 Friday for driver Adam Merner, trainer Melissa Rennie and owners Dale and Ronnie Rennie of Elmsdale.
Governor's Plate finalist Screen Test has post 3 for driver Corey MacPherson after cutting out his most recent mile but fading late to finish seventh. Top Inverness pacer Intended Royalty ships in from Cape Breton to leave from post 4 with Marc Campbell set to steer the pacer for trainer Randy Copley.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac will expect Screen Test to bounce back to his former Invitational form and hit the wire first.
"Screen Test burned a ton of money last week when he packed it in late but maybe it just wasn't his day," MacIsaac said. "Don't lose sight of the fact that he's been facing the bearcats all summer and holding his own. He'll be looking to redeem himself tonight."
Also in the field is Rockin Indy (Driven by David Dowling), The Big Bite (Walter Cheverie), Tempo Seelster (Ken Murphy) and Three Truths (Kenny Arsenault).
Woodmere Chella headlines the top mares pace on the card in the race 10 finale with a $2,200 purse on the line. Dowling drives the four-year-old daughter of Articulator for trainer Mike Dowling and owner Valleygrove Farms of Kensington. The mare drops out of the Open mares ranks into Friday's contest and draws post 6. Other top entries include West River Ambyr (Steven Shepherd) and Charlottes Western (Marc Campbell).
For race programs, promotional information and more go to www.Redshores.ca.
by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores