Woodmere Rock It puts perfect record on the line

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Undefeated rookie Woodmere Rock It (Tobago Cays) will attempt to extend his perfect harness racing record Sunday afternoon in the Joe O’Brien Memorial at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

The Prince County oval has 12 dashes scheduled for a 12:30 P.M. opening post time with more than $205,000 in Joe O’Brien Memorial and Lady Slipper Stakes action for two-year-old pacers.

Woodmere Rock It is the 5-2 morning-line favourite in the $27,760 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold division for two-year-old pacing colts in race 11. Adam Merner will drive the Jamie Smith trainee from post 4 for owner Thestable Woodmererock It of Guelph, Ont.

The son of Tobago Cays is undefeated in six lifetime starts with $34,525 in earnings. Woodmere Rock It enters Sunday off a 1:52.4 victory at Charlottetown, equalling the Canadian record for two-year-old pacing geldings on a half-mile track and recording the fastest mile ever by a rookie pacer in Atlantic Canada. He also owns the Summerside track record for two-year-old pacing geldings with his 1:54.3 victory on Aug. 9.

Malicious Benny is the second choice from post 3 with Marc Campbell driving for trainer Earl Watts and owner Wade Peconi of Stanchel. Woodmere Dougal has post 5 for driver Brodie MacPhee, trainer Corey MacPherson and owners Peter Smith of Stratford and Gerald Morrissey of Charlottetown.

The Post Time Picks have Woodmere Rock It listed as the most probable winner of the afternoon.

“Woodmere Rock It has been nothing short of sensational through the first six starts of his career and now returns to the track where he was a commanding winner in 1:54.3 earlier this month. He just equalled a Canadian record in Charlottetown and we see no reason to believe the winning streak ends Sunday.”

The Joe O’Brien Memorial also has $13,880 Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing colts in races 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9.

The Lady Slipper Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies has a pair of $27,120 Gold divisions in races 2 and 7.

Isle Impress You is the Post Time Picks selection in the first Gold division from post 2 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Saul Lanigan. The Malicious filly has two wins from four starts and is owned by Lanigan and Isaac Schurman of P.E.I., along with Darcy Doyle and Shane Esson of New Brunswick. Sheeowtime Speed is the 5-2 morning-line favourite from post 4 with Campbell driving for trainer Watts while Rosetown Aurora has the rail for trainer-driver MacPherson.

Starship Daisy is favoured at 5-2 in the second Lady Slipper Gold division from post 3. Campbell drives the three-time winner for trainer Watts and owner Francis Poirier of Havre-Aux-Maisons, Que. Ur Not Catching Me has the rail for trainer-driver Michael McGuigan while Woodmere Twigs leaves from post 4 for trainer-driver Merner.

Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions carrying $13,560 purses are scheduled for races 6, 8, 10 and 12.

Wager live at the track or on HPIBet.com. For live video, free race programs and more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores