CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Multiple Maritime Champion Mile Hill Willie will search for his fourth straight harness racing victory in the Thursday night featured trot at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 12-dash Thursday card has a 6 P.M. opening post time with the $2,500 Open trot lining up in race 9 of the card. Mile Hill Willie, an Atlantic Triple Crown winner at age 2, set a new record for Maritime bred trotters on the East Coast when he toured the capital oval in 1:57.1 on August 13 in a 13-length romp. He came back on Gold Cup and Saucer night to capture the $4,000 Colonel Dan Trot for his fourth straight in a new record of 1:56.3 for Maritime Breds while also tying the overall track trotting record held by Freddie. Gilles Barrieau will again drive the five-year-old Mile Hill Willie from post 6 on Thursday for co-owner and trainer Paul Morrison of Cardigan and John Breau of Shediac Cape, N.B.
Last week's runner-up, Hop Up, has post 4 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Keith Campbell while Majian Tango is third choice on the morning line from post 3 for Jim Ripley of Amherst, N.S.
The Post Time Picks in Thursday's card have Mile Hill Willie as the definite one to knock off. "Mile Hill Willie didn't sit long last time before clearing to the lead and going on to equal the track trotting record at Red Shores Charlottetown in 1:56.3. He's on top of his game and we won't be surprised to see him in the winner's circle again."
Also in the Open Trot field are Star Photo (To be driven by Jason Hughes), Suicide Shift (Steven Shepherd), Freddie (Marc Campbell), Glider Man (Kenny Arsenault) and Daisy River (Paul Lanigan).
The top pace of the night lines up in race 11 for a $2,300 pot with Miss Kabana leaving from post 4 fresh off a second place finish in 1:54.4 on Gold Cup and Saucer night for driver Brodie MacPhee and trainer Gary Poulton. Other top entries are Sophist (Campbell) from post 7 and Southwind Ion (David Dowling) with post 8.
Catch all the action on the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.
By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores