Trotting rivalry resumes at Red Shores

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Star Photo currently has the lead against his top harness racing Open trot competitor and will look to keep it that way Thursday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 12-dash Thursday evening card gets underway at 6:30 P.M. with the $2,400 Open Trot lining up in race 8. Star Photo will leave from post 5 this week after having his first taste of East Coast defeat last week. He had won his first two Open Trot events on Prince Edward Island for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Kevin Gillis but was second best to Freddie last week. Freddie will leave from the outside in the field of 6 with Marc Campbell in the bike for owner Three Wisemen Stable of Stratford.

Guccios Office returns to Island racing after shipping out last season for the Ontario circuit. He will leave from post 1 for driver Ken Murphy and owner-trainer Kathleen Charlton of Charlottetown.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac has seen post position as the deciding factor in who hits the wire first so he will side with Star Photo this week.

"Star Photo draws inside his main rival and it's been the difference in all three of their previous meetings and likely will be again tonight," MacIsaac said.

Also in the Open trot field is Hop Up (Driven by Corey MacPherson), Suicide Shift (Steven Shepherd) and Majian Tango (Jim Ripley).

Race 11 has the top pace of the night for a $2,300 purse. Charlottes Western is posted as the morning line favourite from post 3 for trainer-driver Campbell and owners Henry Smallwood and Cyril Harvey of Nova Scotia. Innocent Kiss (Adam Merner) leaves from post 2 and will look for redemption after having a flat tire for the final quarter of her latest outing.

Catch the action live at the track or tune into the worldwide broadcast at www.Redshores.ca.

 

By Nicholas Oakes

For Red Shores