CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The fastest horse in the history of Nova Scotia harness racing will make the trek across the Northumberland Strait to take on the Saturday evening harness racing feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 11-dash Saturday card has a 6 P.M. post time with Yankee Osborne drawing post 5 in the field of six featured pacers in race 10 fresh off a 1:52 victory in the Lindsay Construction Cup at Truro Raceway. Neill MacInnis will be driving the Gold Cup and Saucer hopeful in Saturday's $3,100 preferred pace for trainer Ross MacInnis and owner Sarah Jane Stables of Mono, Ontario.
The five-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser was a private purchase from the Burke stable of Pennsylvania in the Spring.
Simple Kinda Man was the runner-up to Yankee Osborne in that track record performance but he is being billed as the top choice with rail control for driver Jason Hughes, trainer Chris MacKay and owners D Racing Stable of New York and Don MacRae of Vernon Bridge. Simple Kinda Man knocked off the top pacers in Charlottetown last week with a head decision in 1:53.4.
Third choice is Avatar J from the Danny MacDonald stable of Charlottetown with Gilles Barrieau at the lines from post 3. The 20-time winner last went to the gate in Truro, finishing fifth to Yankee Osborne, pacing his own mile in 1:53. Freddy Bear makes his East Coast debut from the outside post 6, moving into the Marc Campbell stable with Campbell at the lines. Owned by a numbered Ontario company out of Ottawa, Freddy Bear has been racing the conditioned ranks at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ontario.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac takes Simple Kinda Man for the top of his triactor selection. "Simple Kinda Man is a versatile type with good early speed and a dangerous finishing kick, both of which he can exploit with rail control," MacIsaac said. "Timing and trip are crucial in a rfce like this and the post advantage he has can only boost his chances."
Also in the field are Soccer Hanover (To be driven by Walter Cheverie) and Screen Test (Corey MacPherson).
Former Stakes Star Favoured In Summerside Feature
SUMMERSIDE, PE – A full slate of 12-dashes will be featured Sunday afternoon in Prince County Harness Racing at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The first of a dozen races has a 1 P.M. post time on Sunday afternoon and former Atlantic Stakes star Heart And Soul is the morning line favourite in the race 11 top class carrying a $2,700 purse.
Walter Cheverie will steer the Maritime Champion son of Western Paradise from post 5 for trainer George Riley and owner Riley Farms of Summerside. A winner of 28 lifetime races and $104,849 in purses, Heart And Soul will leave from post 5 in the field of seven. Pillage And Burn has been unheeded at every fraction since being claimed for $8,500 in Truro by owner Perry Burke of Quebec and placed in the Trevor Hicken stable.
The Cam's Card Shark nine-year-old will leave from post 3 on Sunday with Brodie MacPhee in the bike as he looks for his third straight Island victory. Mystery Phil knocked off the top event last Sunday and has another good starting spot from post 4 for trainer Melissa Rennie and driver Adam Merner.
The Backstetch Beat in Sunday's program lists Pillage And Burn as the top choice to find his nose on the wire first. "Pillage And Burn has yet to taste defeat in the Hicken stable so we'll wager today will not be the day that changes," reads the beat.
Also in the field are Phil Dorleans (To be driven by Ken Murphy), Woodmere Ideal Art (Robert Laffin), Jeb (Jason Hughes) and Mach It Again (Dale Spence).
Mantario leads the way in the race 9 back-up pace for a $2,200 pot. MacPhee picks up the catch drive for trainer Dale Sobey and owner Walter Simmons of Summerside. Other top entries in that class are Howmac Magic (Hughes) and Painted Desert (Corey MacPherson).
Go to Redshores.ca for race programs and more. Wager online at HPIBet.com.
By Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores