CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The Island Breeders Championship are up for grabs Saturday afternoon with a number of winning streaks at stake at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 13-dash Saturday afternoon card will see the first regular 12:30 P.M. post time of the fall racing season. Six Island Breeder's finals are set for the program including Woodmere Oleksiak who has dominated his last eight races hitting the wire first every time.
David Dowling retains the drive from post 2 for trainer Earl Watts in the race 10 Island Breeder's Final named the Ron McInnis Memorial for a $12,000 purse. The Articulator lass is owned by Hollis Newson of Cornwall, Windemere Farms of Hampshire and Nova Scotia owners Debbie Denney of Brooklyn and Ric McNutt of Onslow Mountain.
Red Dirt Boomer has won his last six starts and has rail control in the race 12 Harry O'Brien Memorial Island Breeder's three-year-old pacing colt final for owner Daniel Ross of Belfast and trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau. The son of Malicious put together a personal best performance two starts back winning in 1:55.4 over Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia.
Gettin Messi earned the title of fastest three-year-old trotter in Maritime Harness Racing history earlier in the season and has followed that up with wins in his last five starts. Mike McGuigan will drive the champion trotter from post 3 in the $8,500 Island Breeder's three-year-old trot final Albert Bernard Memorial in race 4. Len McGuigan trains the Armbro Barrister colt for owner Jamie Whalen of Avondale.
A homebred of Arnold Rankin of Antigonish, N.S., Mabou Ridge rides a three-race win streak in race 2 of the program in the $8,500 Island Breeder's two-year-old trot final named in Memory of Mrs. James 'Ma' Poulton. Clare MacDonald trains and drives the son of Armbro Barrister from post 5.
Watch Me Dance is the morning line favourite in race 6's Island Breeder's Final for two-year-old pacing fillies named the Brian Andrew Memorial for a $12,000 pot. Co-owned and bred by John and Stephen Quinn of Charlottetown, Ozzie MacKay of Moncton, N.B., shares in the ownership of the Ameripan Gigolo filly. Watch Me Dance has post 3 on Saturday afternoon with Jason Hughes in the race bike.
The Big Chase was ultra-impressive in his latest stakes engagement and earns the honour of morning line favourite in the race 8 Island Breeder's two-year-old colt final Pat McHugh Memorial for a $12,000 purse. Corey MacPherson is back at the controls of the Western Paradise colt for owner JTL Risk Stable of Port Morien, N.S., and trainer Melissa Rennie.
Also on the program is the $2,800 Fillies and Mares Open pace in race 7 and the $3,000 preferred pace in race 11.
Leading Driver, Trainer Gun For Top Class
SUMMERSIDE, PE – With a win streak on the line Twice As Bright will face his toughest task to date in the Sunday afternoon featured pace at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The Prince County half-miler will play host to 12-dashes Sunday afternoon with a 1 P.M. first race post time and the featured $2,600 top class hits the track in race 11. Twice As Bright has the hottest two individuals at the track next to his name as the post 2 starter is driven by Red Shores Summerside leading driver David Dowling and trained by leading conditioner Elton Millar. A winner in his last three starts including a 1:55.3 score in his latest,
Twice As Bright is owned by Kyle Williams and Charles and Catlin Blaisdell. His road to the winner's circle won't be easy as Best To Hurst (Driven by Jason Hughes) has post 3 and talented Sportswriter colt Mantario (Norris Rogers) leaves from post 5. Also in the field are Varadero Hanover (Ken Murphy), Mando Fun (Gilles Barrieau) and Nogreatmischief (Walter Cheverie).
Race 4 on the card is the $1,900 Isabelle and Ivan Cameron Memorial pace with Dusty Lane Cortez the favourite dropping out of stakes competition into post 2 for driver Dowling, trainer Devon Wallace and owners David and Jordan Lewis of Alberton.
The Leon Stewart Memorial lines up in race 5 for a $1,300 pot and Windemere Nick is the morning line choice in the field of eight with Hughes driving for trainer Earl Watts and owners Kelly Watts, Lynn Clark and Frank Balcom.
Windemere Johny is the favourite in the race 6 Cecil Stewart Memorial with post 4. The $1,400 event will see Dowling in the bike behind the morning line choice for co-owner and trainer Jack McGuirk and co-owner Donald Thompson of Kensington.
Badlands Giovanna will have to overcome post 8 in the race 7 Lester Chappell Memorial for a $1,500 purse with Hughes driving for owner Stephen Sweet of Springfield West and trainer Jaycob Sweet. Jaycob showcased his bright future in the race bike P.E.I. Matinee finals recently as the youngster won both classes held at Red Shores Charlottetown driving Cinder Angelina and Sharon The Moment for owner MacKenzie Arsenault.
The final Sunday afternoon Memorial pace is the race 8 Bob MacInnis Memorial with JJ Powerball tagged as the one to beat in the $2,300 class for driver Myles Heffernan Sr., trainer Wade Sorrie and owners Austin Sorrie and Tammy Collings.
For race programs, promotional plays and live video check out www.Redshores.ca.
By Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores