Island stars clash in MacDonald Memorial

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Mappos Lion will face Governor’s Plate champion Get Wings and Red Shores Summerside track record holder Arbitrage Hanover in the $10,000 Wilbur and Pauline MacDonald Memorial Saturday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval has a 15-dash harness racing presentation beginning at 5 P.M., with the featured MacDonald Memorial Free-For-All event lining up in race 14. Wilbur and Pauline MacDonald were both raised on family farms in Orwell and China Point, with horses remaining an important part of their lives. They were longtime supporters of Island harness racing as horse owners and regularly attended programs at the Charlottetown Driving Park with family members.

Mappos Lion is the 5-2 morning line favourite from post 4 with Ryan Desroche in the seat for trainer Taylor Doyle. The nine-year-old son of Sunshine Beach was unleashed a powerful 26.1 closing panel to win his P.E.I. Free-For-All Event last week in Charlottetown.

Arbitrage Hanover has rail control for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Clifford Murphy. The five-year-old son of Bettors Wish established a Summerside Raceway track record of 1:50.3 in his Governor’s Plate elimination before finishing fifth in the final.

Governor’s Plate champion Get Wings leaves from post 2 with Paul Langille driving for trainer Vaughan Doyle and owners Gary Ford of Stratford and Janet Kinney of Wheatley River. The son of Bettors Wish won his elimination in 1:52.4 before returning to capture the $50,000 final.

Merigo Magic has post 3 with trainer-driver Adam Merner while JMR Speak Away completes the compact field from post 5 with Gilles Barrieau driving for trainer Darren Crowe.

The program also features three $22,750 Brian Andrew Memorial divisions for two-year-old trotters.

Saulsbrook Disco is favoured in the filly division in race 2 with Marc Campbell handling the lines for trainer Landon Campbell. The daughter of Muscle Through It leaves from the rail after winning the first two starts of her career for owner What R The Oddz Stable of Orwell. Early Speed (To be driven by Myles Heffernan Sr.) is the second choice from post 5 while Rockin Through It (Mike McGuigan) is third choice from post 3.

The first Brian Andrew Memorial colt division takes to the track in race 4 with Stunning Speed the 5-2 morning line favourite from post 5. McGuigan trains and drives the son of Muscle Through It, who has been perfect in two lifetime starts. Shoe Dog Speed (Paul Langille) has post 2 while Smokin Rocket (Corey MacPherson) leaves from post 3.

Hopthroughit gets top billing in the second colt division in race 6 with Clare MacDonald driving from her own barn. The Muscle Through It colt leaves from post 5 after recording a second and third from two starts. Earl Speed (Jason Hughes) is the second choice from post 3 while Maple Leaf Captain (Heffernan Sr.) has the rail.

Another Wilbur and Pauline MacDonald Memorial Pace is carded in race 9 for a $5,800 purse. Cattle Call is the morning line favourite from post 7 for trainer Ron Matheson and driver Barrieau. Rose Run X Con (Langille) leaves from post 6 while Pictonian I Am (Ken Murphy) has post 4.

Race 3 is the Ashes To Ashes Retirement with Someplacesomewhere the favourite with post 5 for trainer-driver Merner.

The Watts Family Memorial lines up in race 5 with Bentley selected as the top choice from post 8. MacPherson drives the John Clarey trainee.

Play at the track or from home through HPIBET.COM. For the Race Day broadcast, race programs and more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores