CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The Saturday evening feature promises to be a lively one at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park as it is jam packed with top pacers who just met in Governor's Plate elimination action two weeks ago in Summerside.
The Saturday evening 12-dash Charlottetown card gets underway at 6 P.M. with the featured pace capping off the card in the finale sponsored by McWade Racing. Invictus Hanover gets respect as the morning line favourite from post 6 with Jason Hughes training and driving for Foxyhall Racing of Wallace, N.S. The six-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser was a fifth place finisher in the recent $22,000 Governor's Plate final pacing in 1:55.3, a time that puts him in full contention with his Saturday rivals. Fellow Hughes trainee Jeb is fresh off a 1:55.1 victory and gets the services of Kenny Arsenault in the bike this week while Smiley Bayama has post 2 for trainer-driver Ron Gass. Not a single horse can be discounted in the field as Give Em Heck has previously defeated this group and gets the services of Brian MacPhee from post 1. MacPhee's daughter, Ambyr Campbell, gets the catch driving call on Trevor Hicken trainee Adkins Hanover with post 3, Forever Paradise is reunited with Mike McGuigan from post 4 while Perfect Escape has post 5 for Gordie Hennessey. Eagle Jolt has been ultra consistent this year with Ryan Desroche picking up the drive as trainer Marc Campbell in racing in stakes action in Truro, N.S.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac likes the chances of Invictus Hanover to defeat Saturday's talented group.
"While this is a nice group they're not quite up to the level of his usual opposition," MacIsaac said of Invictus Hanover. "The post might curb your enthusiasm and while we'd prefer to see him on front, he's got the versatility to handle any style so he gets top billing."
The race 11 $2,250 Open Mares pace will see the return of Dixie Lullaby who has been racing in Ontario the past two season after being one of the most talented two-year-old fillies the Maritimes has seen in recent years. The now four-year-old daughter of If I Can Dream was raised by Meridian Farms in Milton and was a recent winner in 1:53.4 over the half-mile oval at Grand River Raceway in Ontario, putting her into potential Charlottetown track record territory. Gary Chappell will drive Dixie Lullaby from post 8 for trainer Kyle Fellows of Ontario, who co-owns with Carl Stafford of Newfoundland And Labrador. Good Lucky Kathy has been installed as the favourite in the race with post 6 for driver Hughes and conditioner Jennifer Trainor.
The program also features the Clan MacPhail Reunion 2017 Pace in race 6.
Check out Redshores.ca for live video, race programs and promotional information including the $100,000 Dash For Cash promotion being offered again this weekend.
Tight Knit Group Contests Summerside Top Class
A compact group of five will contest the Sunday afternoonfeatured pace at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway and the opening quarter is sure to be lively.
First race post time is 1 P.M. for the 12-dash card and Machinthesand has rail control and the nod from classifier Gerard Smith as the morning line choice in the $2,250 race 11 top class. Ken Murphy drives the pacer for trainer Hughie Murphy and Summerside owners Noon Holdings Ltd and Russell and Karen Noonan. The eight-year-old son of Mach Three was victorious in this class the last time he had rail control by setting up shop on the front end but this week he has to contend with the front-running Minor Wisdom from post 2 with Wade Sorrie in the bike for Kristina McCourt of Kensingto. The seven-year-old American Ideal mare was a winner in her latest outing in the $2,250 Mares Open. Instant Shadow (Jason Hughes) gets post 5 shipping in from New Brunswick and riding a two-race win streak over Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John for trainer Sifroi Melanson, while Pictonian Storm was a sharp 1:55.2 winner in his latest and gets Gary Chappell this week from post 4. Mando Fun leaves from post 3 with Dale Spence in the bike for trainer Paul Biggar.
Ultimateflyingnun will put her undefeated season to the test from post 1 in race 10 on the card for trainer Melanson and driver Spence. The five-year-old daughter of Driven To Win has three wins from as many starts so far in 2017. Old Buck is the favourite in that $1,800 event for driver Hughes and owner-trainer Alan MacDonald of Summerside.
Race 8 has a newcomer to Island racing with Come On Eileen leaving from post 5 in the $1,600 dash with Ambyr Campbell in the bike for new trainer Trevor Hicken. The four-year-old daughter of Sportswriter has seven lifetime wins, $28,724 in earnings and a mark of 1:57 over the five-eighths Rideau Carleton oval outside Ottawa, Ont. The mare will have stiff company in her Island debut including Bowyer Hanover (Walter Cheverie), Rash B Havior (Murphy) and Ultimatelyhandsome (Dale Spence).
Check out Redshores.ca for live video, race programs and promotional information including the $100,000 Dash For Cash promotion being offered again this weekend.
By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores