CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Post-position could mean everything as a tight knit group of half-a-dozen meet Thursday night in the feature harness racing event at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
First race post time is 7 pm for the 12-dash card.
The race 11 feature lines up for a purse of $2,200 as Waterside Light will attempt to use rail control to his advantage for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault and owners Larry and Kathy Chappell of Marshfield. The four-year-old son of Lis Mara has not seen the winner's circle since July 2 but that was the last time he faced this class of horses, before climbing to the preferred ranks plus racing in a Governor's Plate elimination at Red Shores Summerside. Waterside Light is back down in class this week but has to knock off a horse formerly dominant in this class with Forever Paradise leaving from post 5 for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Kevin MacLean. McJestic is fresh off a 1:55.4 victory during Old Home Week racing from post 6 with Marc Campbell in the bike while the race's other three rivals drop out of preferred company to face off in this field of six. They are The Big Bite (Walter Cheverie), Perfect Escape (Ron Matheson) and Cambest Kisser (Jason Hughes).
Race analyst Les MacIsaac will put his faith in Waterside Light with the favourable starting post.
"He's been keeping company with the best around all year and as his record indicates, more than holding his own," MacIsaac said. "The bit of class relief coupled with rail control could see him get it all."
A pair of trot classes also populates the race card in races 3 and 5. Howmacs Pride is favoured in the eight-horse field in race 3 with trainer-driver Arsenault from post 7 for owners Wade Peconi of Stanchel and Howmac Farms of North Wiltshire. JK Queen is the morning line choice in race 5 for driver Walter Cheverie, co-owner and trainer Joe Smallwood of Stratford and co-owner Norman Clarey of Charlottetown. The tough field also includes Majian Dillon from post 2 and a father-daughter battler as Tymal Tyme leaves from post 7 with Brian MacPhee catch driving and his daughter, Ambyr Campbell, steering post 8 entry Parkhill Juggernaut.
By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores