CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The Maritime Breeder's eliminations take centre stage Saturday night at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park as the best and brightest harness racing three-year-old pacers in Atlantic Canada converge on the capital oval.
First race post time is 6 P.M. for the 13-dash card with two eliminations of the Maritime Breeder's stake for three-year-old pacing fillies lining up in races 3 and 7, and three eliminations for the three-year-old pacing colts in races 5, 10 and 12.
The first $3,000 Maritime Breeder's pacing filly elimination will see three red hot fillies clash in race 3 including a pair from the Marc Campbell stable. Campbell elects to steer Filly Forty Seven from post 2 while Gilles Barrieau picks up the catch drive on stablemate Elm Grove Ladyluck with post 5. The Earl Watts trained Bonzai Beach gets the nod as the morning line favorite from post 4 with Clare MacDonald on the seat.
Divisional leader Elektra Express has post 4 in the race 7 $3,000 elimination for trainer-driver Campbell while riding a three-race win streak. The three-year-old daughter of Western Paradise tied the Truro Raceway three-year-old pacing filly track record with a 1:56.2 lifetime best. Other top entries include Tobins Secret (Earl Smith) and Kinda Like Her (Kenny Arsenault).
The top four fillies in each elimination make next Saturday's championship final in the Ken Starratt Memorial.
The first three-year-old pacing colt meeting happens in race 5 for a $3,000 purse as the colt's look to make next Saturday's rich final. Complete Player has been undefeated in stakes action so far this season for driver Mark Bradley and trainer Tom Weatherbie and gets post 2 while last year's Atlantic Breeder's Crown winner, Tobinator, has the rail with Corey MacPherson.
The $3,000 race 10 elimination has Ryans Allstar off the rail for trainer-driver Campbell fresh off a 1:57.3 victory in the Bob Dewar stake in Summerside. Cowboys Dont Cry (Corey MacPherson) and Carters Caper (Clare MacDonald) are other top elimination entries.
The heavyweights of the division battle in race 12 as Island Energetic rides a five-race win streak into post 2 for trainer-driver Campbell. Ashes To Ashes was exceptional in his latest outing with a 1:55.2 win in overnight action in Charlottetown for trainer Jackie Matheson and driver Barrieau and gets post 5 while last year's Maritime Breeder's winner Nameisonthehalter (MacPherson) has post 3.
The top two three-year-old pacing colts in each elimination will make next week's final in the Doug Harkness along with the fastest two third place finishers.
The preferred pacers renew their rivalry in race 11 with top pacers like Adkins Hanover (MacPherson), Mr Irresistible (Jason Hughes) and Mach It Big (Campbell).
The weekend programs also feature the kick-off of the $100,000 Dash For Cash with full contest details, race programs and live video available at Red Shores.ca.
Narragansett, Mando Fun Set To Tussle Sunday In Summerside
SUMMERSIDE, PE – A tight knit group of aged pacers will contest the Sunday afternoon feature pace at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
First race post time is 1 P.M. for the 12-dash program with the $2,300 featured pace lining up in race 11.
Mando Fun is the morning line choice but is shouldered the outside post in the six-horse field. Dale Spence drives the pacer for co-owner and trainer Paul Biggar of Tyne Valley and co-owner Donald Callbeck of Kensington. The four-year-old son of Badlands Hanover captured last Sunday's top class but looks to have some tougher competition with Narragansett leaving from post 2 fresh off a 1:56.2 upset victory in the Thursday evening feature at Red Shores Charlottetown. Jason (The Blue Knight) Hughes trains and drives Narragansett for owners Foxyhall Racing of Nova Scotia. Machinthesand can never be counted out and teams up with Norris Rogers this week from post 5. Other entries include Pictonian Storm (Wade Sorrie), Relleno Hanover (Marc Campbell and D Bs Rosco (Kenny Arsenault).
The back-up pace hits the track in race 7 for a $1,700 pot with Instant Shadow seeing some class relief and looking for redemption after making a break and being parked out in his latest start. The Sifroi Melanson trainee leaves the gate from post 6 with Hughes in the bike for New Brunswick owners Ultimate Stable and Robert Kyle. Rash B Havior is the morning line choice in the event with Campbell picking up the catch drive for owner-trainer Mike Peters of Emyvale. George (Walter Cheverie) and Chevalier Semalu (Spence) both ride season's best victories into Sunday's race.
Mia Lotta makes her East Coast debut in race 3 on the card for new trainer and co-owner Phil Desroche of O'Leary and co-owner Abel Arsenault of New Brunswick. Desroche's son, Ryan Desroche, will steer the four-year-old daughter of Major In Art as she relocates from Hippodrome Trois Rivieres in Quebec.
The weekend programs also feature the kick-off of the $100,000 Dash For Cash with full contest details, race programs and live video available at Red Shores.ca.
By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores