CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Elm Grove Kaboom will try to deliver on his morning promise in the Thursday evening harness racing feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park with Prince Edward Island's leading driver in the race bike.
First race post time is 6:30 P.M. for the 12-dash Thursday program with the $1,900 featured event lining up in race 11. Elm Grove Kaboom leaves from post 5 in the mid-week top class for driver Marc Campbell, trainer Earl Smith and owners Larry and Kathy Chappell of Marshfield. The son of Articulator finished out of the money in his last start against preferred company, where D Gs Camme was the winner, but still paced a snappy mile in 1:54.4 with Campbell at the lines. Red Magician has post 7 for driver Adam Merner fresh off a second place finish where he paced in 1:55.3 while Mozartsplace has rail control for driver Gilles Barrieau after finishing second in his latest outing in 1:56.1.
Other Thursday feature entrants include Capitalism (Jason Hughes), Darth Bader (Norris Rogers), Tempo Seelster (Vincent Poulton) and The Big Bite (Kenny Arsenault).
The 'King' of Island racing, Campbell continues his commanding lead in the Red Shores Charlottetown driving standings with 107 wins compared to 66 wins for second place Hughes. Campbell will look to add to those totals in the Open trot for a $1,850 purse with Freddie but will have to overcome being handicapped to post 8. The Majestic Son five-year-old is riding a three-race win streak but has not raced since September 14 for owners Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston. In Freddie's absence, Kennel Buddy captured last week's edition for owner-trainer-driver David Dowling in 1:58.1 and gets post 6 on Thursday.
The Thursday program will also see the return of Brian Blanchard to the race bike in race 8 behind post 6 starter Dees Boy for trainer Kenny Arsenault at 7-2 morning line odds. Blanchard, a native of Maine, is attending the Atlantic Veterinary College but was working for the Jimmy Takter racing stable in New Jersey during his summer vacation.
Doc Semalu is a newcomer to the East Coast and will make his debut as the race 7 favorite for driver Hughes, conditioner Jennifer Trainor and new owner Danny Birt of Stratford. The three-year-old son of Mach Three has two wins and $21,597 to his credit so far in his career including a 1:54 lifetime best over Mohawk Raceway in Ontario.
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By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores