CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Two of the finest harness racing trotters in the history of Atlantic Canadian harness racing will face off again Thursday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 12-dash Thursday program has a 6 P.M. start time with the featured $2,400 Open trot lining up in race 5 with a pair of Maritime trotting champions in the mix.
Newly minted Charlottetown trotting mare track record holder Hop Up has post 5 in the field of six for driver Corey MacPherson and owner-trainer Keith Campbell of Victoria West. The six-year-old daughter of Tad The Stud recorded her 18th lifetime win last week while stamping herself as the fastest trotting female in the history of Atlantic Canadian harness racing with her 1:57.1 victory.
Mile Hill Willie, who co-holds the overall track trotting record at 1:56.3, has the outside in Thursday's contest with Gilles Barrieau in the sulky for trainer Paul Morrison. The Armbro Barrister stallion just missed by a head to finish second in Hop Up's track record performance last week.
Peter MacPhee with Post Time Picks selected Mile Hill Willie in the top spot.
"Mile Hill Willie was flying on the end of it last time and just missed getting it all at the wire. Slightly better post and his form is excellent so if he fires homes in 28 and change again he could hit the wire first."
Also in the Open Trot field are Windmeredontuworry (To be driven by Adam Merner), Daisy River (Jason Hughes), Sailor Blue (Ken Murphy) and Labero (David Dowling).
Race 10 of the evening will see Temagami Seelster attempt to remain undefeated since moving East. The three-year-old daughter of Sunshine Beach was a winner of $171,297 last year racing primarily in the Ontario Sires Stakes program but had failed to garner a cheque racing in Ontario in the first part of 2020.
Nova Scotia owners David Mercer, Wayne McGean and Joseph Lewis then sent the sophomore to trainer Tom Weatherbie in Charlottetown where she has wheeled off four straight victories and will get the services of driver Brodie MacPhee again on Thursday. Her main competition in the $1,950 event are Much Adoo (Barrieau) and Traces Of Purple (Hughes).
For race programs and more go to Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.
by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores