Charlottetown, PE – Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park will host their final Saturday, Sunday combo of the season. Post time for the harness racing cards will be 12:30pm.
The city oval will present 26 races over the weekend with one driver on track to beat the all-time wins record in a single season at Charlottetown. Marc Campbell, who set the record in 2012 at 130 wins, has a chance to break his own record before the season ends on December 31, 2016. The Winsloe native, booked on 16 horses this weekend, is only eight wins away from setting a new standard with 8 cards remaining.
The two-time Gold Cup winner starts his assignments with live drives aboard trotters Tyne Valley, trained by William Roloson, and Freddie for the Three Wiseman stable, Cornwall, PE. The countdown is on and it's most likely he will re-write this chapter in the history books.
The afternoon feature has track analysts split on their top choices. Race secretary Gerard Smith, who was inducted to the PEI Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1977 PEI Islander's senior baseball team, has labeled last week's top class winner Best Risque as the one to beat off the rail for driver MacPherson, trainer Brian Ladner and his co-owners Lillian and Kevin Ladner, Charlottetown, PE. MacPherson, fresh off his high-five last week, takes the mare from the garden spot after her sparkling winning performance of 1:56.3.
On the other hand, the host of top picks in the race program, Les MacIsaac, is putting his money on post 5 starter Smiley Bayama and driver Adam Merner. Ron Gass trains the eight-year-old pacer for his daughter Shelley Gass and grand-daughter Alexis Gass, Cornwall, PE. There will be strong opposition from Clic K (Campbell), Rash B Havior (Ken Murphy) and Motorino (Terry Gallant). The nine horse line-up also includes McJestic (Gary Chappell), First Art Down (Jason Hughes), DBS Rosco (Kenny Arsenault) and Three Truths (Vaughn Doyle).
Red Shores Sunday
D GS Camme takes his three-race winning streak into the Sunday feature. Co-owner- driver Ron Matheson will be in the bike as the invitational star goes after his 10th victory of the season from post 7. Instant Shadow, who has also won his last three starts, gets the rail for Mark Bradley while 3-1 choice, Eagle Jolt, fires from post 6. The all-star cast includes Painted Desert, Simon Said, All Turain, Someone Like You and Drivingthedragon N.
For race programs, top picks and live broadcasts go to www.redshores.ca
By Lee Drake