Stage set for Maritime Breeders Finals

Charlottetown, PE – It’s one of the biggest harness racing cards of the season Saturday when Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park hosts the three-year old fillies in the Ken Starratt memorial with the colts racing for the dough in the Doug Harkness memorial. Post time is 6pm. The live coverage of the rich finals will be on the Bell-Aliant Race Day show beginning at 5:35pm.

The Starratt memorial, carrying a purse of $25,420, will be called to the starter in race 9. Charlottetown trainer Tom Weatherbie has three horses in the final including elimination winner Glory Jean from post 5 for driver Mark Bradley and owner Blair Hansen. The filly, who flashed a final panel of 28.4 in her last start, will give morning line favorite Howmacscanasta (Gilles Barrieau) everything she can handle. Race analyst Les MacIsaac agrees. “She offers a not worse than second record from five starts this year and was never better than she was in her latest.” The other Weatherbie starters, Pownal Bay Style and Howmac Annie, drew outside posts. The luck of the draw went to Southview Sassy for trainer-driver Terry Gallant. This filly has triactor potential. The final also includes Howmac Fiesty (Danny Romo), Maudail Mac (Ken McDonald) and West River Ambyr (Clare MacDonald).

The MBA final for three-year-old colts will compete in the $21,430 Doug Harkness memorial in race 11 scheduled for a 8:51pm post time. The powerful Downey stable of NB will send out Jackson K Down (Gilles Barrieau) and KD Overdrive (Danny Romo). The elimination winners drew post 6 and 7 respectively. Steve Mason conditions the pacers. Jackson K Down is the morning line favorite after winning both his stakes assignments this season. Race secretary Gerard Smith has also listed elimination winner Heart and Soul (Clare MacDonald) and JJ Jodster (Marc Campbell) as top three candidates. The power-packed field also includes Wishiwasagigolo (Mark Bradley), Lukes Cowboy (Kenny Arsenault), Offshore Cowboy (Dale Spence) and Howmacsblackjack (Earl Smith).

The preferred pacers will assemble in race 12 with top billing going to DGS Camme (Barrieau). Trained by Jackie Matheson, the invitational star just missed his target last week in his season debut after enduring some traffic problems. The son of Blissful Hall, owned by Quentin and Hal Bevan, Tom Clark and Ron Matheson, fired a 27.4 closer but Forever Paradise (Mike McGuigan) held on to the victory. Narragansett, First Art Down, All Turrain, Clic K and Warrawee Phoenix are also on the roster.

For entries, top picks and live broadcast go to www.redshores.ca

Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series Highlights Summerside

Summerside, PE – The first leg of the Atlantic Aged Mares pacing series gets underway Sunday at Red Shores Summerside. Post time for the 14 dash program is 1pm. The series is presented by Standardbred Canada, Red Shores and the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association.

The first division comes up in race 6 with Miss Oromocto getting the top call from the new backstretch beat reporter. “ Four for six on the season and the money is line today, we’ll expect her “A” game.” Mark Haig will drive for trainer Melvin Land. Best Risgue gets the services of Jason Hughes from post 3 with the mare gunning for her eighth victory of the season while Sendmeasign (Kenny Arsenault), Ideal Space (Ken Murphy) and strong performer Swingirl (Corey MacPherson) are also competing.

The second contest is slated for race 8 with Ramblinglily going for her third win in a row when driver Walter Cheverie guides the Allan Jones trainee from post 4. The six-year-old mare paced her fastest mile of the season of 1:56 flat last week over Charlottetown and was saddled with an outside post. It will be tough to beat her but Shadows Mystery, a winner of her last two, and All Chocolate, who was charted in 1:56.3 in her last assignment, are also listed as the classifier’s choice.

Brodys Leona, listed at 5-2 odds in the last division of the afternoon, could take away some top points for Corey MacPherson and owners Kerry and Emily Taylor and Lisa Richards before the second leg of the series moves to Truro Raceway July 23^rd. The mare has a win, a second and two thirds from seven races this season. Dustylane MsVickie and Alittleeastermagic have drawn inside of the favorite.

The top class goes in race 13 with Carnivore leaving off the pylons for trainer Marvyn Webster and catch-driver Dale Spence. Casimir Luciano (Marc Campbell)  goes for his fifth victory in a row and 10^th of the campaign for trainer-owner Ralph Sweet, O’Leary, PE.

The $100,000 Dash for Cash returns to the Prince County oval. The promotion allows customers, who spend $10 or more in a single purchase, to receive a ballot. One player will be selected after race 9 to pick the official order of finish in race 14 for the big cash prize.

For details on the Dash for Cash, race programs or live video go to www.redshores.ca

Lee Drake