Charlottetown, PE – Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park plays host to the Maritime Breeders eliminations for harness racing two and three year-old trotters Saturday. Post time is 6pm.
Wicked Nick hits the dance floor first drawing post 3 in race 4 for trainer-driver Gary Chappell and the ownership team of Peter Buchanan, North Wiltshire, PE and Cameron Trail, O'Leary, PE. The favorite and son of Tad the Stud has $23,077 in his bank account this season. The next two-year-old elimination comes up in race 8 with Pappy Go Go installed as the morning line favorite at 5-2. Marc Campbell handles the training and driving duties for Grayland Farm, Pugwash, NS. Race analyst Les MacIsaac says the Breeders Crown champion is back on form. "Rebounded from a couple of sub-par performances to come within a tick of his career best mark last week. If he stays on the straight and narrow it looks like a race for place (second).
The three-year-old eliminations go in race 6 and 10. Glencove Zani, who captured the Breeders Crown for driver Len McGuigan and trainer-owner Edward Smallwood, Stratford, PE, starts from post 6 as he appears in his 11th race this season. "Teddy can get them ready that's all I know," said McGuigan last week after the colt's winning performance and new record of 2:01.2. The second three-year-old elimination has Oceanview Pancho (Corey MacPherson), Oceanview Lefty (Michael McGuigan) trying to knock-off stakes star Mr Bower (Kenny Arsenault). The favorites will also see pressure from Mile Hill Bunnie (Paul Morrison), Time Warp (Danny MacDonald) and Howmac Gyspy (Jack Panting).
The evening's top class has Big Surf going for his third win in a row in race 13. Corey MacPherson, who competed at the National Driving Championship along with Jason Hughes at Western Fair in London, Ontario, is back to drive the son of Somebeachsomewhere for trainer Trevor Hicken and his owners Robin, Perry and Luke Burke. The pacer has been rock solid with his last two trips in the 1:54 range. Hicken's other stable-star, All Turain, drew the rail for Len McGuigan while the only girl in the field, Drivingthedragon N, puts her five race win streak on the line. Starcastic (Gordie Hennessey) and Smiley Bayama (Adam Merner) complete the line-up.
For race programs, top picks and live broadcast go to www.redshores.ca
Motorino, Machinthesand and OK Galahad Ready for Showdown in Summerside
Summerside, PE – The stage is set for Sunday's feature event at Red Shores Summerside. The 13 dash card will get underway at 1pm sharp with the top class being called to the gate at 4:08pm.
Ok Galahad is listed as the favorite from post 7 for Jason Hughes and Foxyhall Racing, Summerside and Robi Hughes, Stratford, PE. The pacer goes into the contest coming off a fourth place 1:56 charted mile. Hughes will have work out a trip from the outside with horses like Motorino (Terry Gallant) leaving from post 3. Motorino has been hot at both tracks with back to back trips to victory lane. Machinthesand (pp6) gets reunited with Norris Rogers for the match-up and sports 14 top three finishes from 25 starts this season. Then there's Rash B Havior. The Michael Peters trainee also has the ability to overpower the contenders after posting a 1:56.2 second place performance on October 9. The other entries include J RS Hurricane (Dale Spence), Minor Wisdom (Wade Sorrie) and Painted Desert (Ryan Desroches).
The Stewart family will host two memorial races on the program. The Cecil Stewart memorial is set for race 6 with Bugtown Superstar as the race favorite for trainer-driver Lloyd Hannah and owner Brian Walsh, Albany, PE. The filly has a win and a third in her last two outings. Leon Stewart memorial has Jetster as the top choice from the Ralph Sweet stable.
Customers can purchase two pick 5 ballots on the 13 dash card. The first ballot is ear marked for races 1 thru 5 while the traditional Pick 5 remains on races 6-10. The Wild Horses tags will also feature jackpots of $50 per race with the final race of the night showcasing a $100 jackpot. The Wild Horses tag is a $2 triactor instant pick. If the Wild Horses tag matches the winning triactor, the winner gets the pay-out and the jackpot assigned to that race.
For race programs, backstretch beat and live video go to www.redshores.ca
By Lee Drake