Harness racing weekend Charlottetown & Summerside

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The top aged pacers on Canada's Eastern Seaboard will again lock bridles in the Saturday afternoon feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval switches to 12:30 P.M. Saturday post times for the remainder of the season with 13-dashes scheduled this week.

The $2,650 preferred pace lines up in race 12 with Rose Run Quest leaving from the outside in the field of six fresh off his 1:54.3 victory in the Atlantic Breeder's Crown Invitational in his latest start. Marc Campbell is back in the bike for owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown.

Czar Seelster leaves from post 4 this week with Mike McGuigan picking up the catch drive for trainer Todd Weatherbee. Euchred has been solid all season and has Adam Merner returning to the driver's seat from post 5.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac admits the race is a toss-up between those three talented pacers but selects Czar Seelster for the top spot Saturday afternoon.

"This is a powerful threesome that's been dominating this class since OHW and it's just a matter of who's turn is it this week," MacIsaac said. "We'll go with Czar Seelster since drawing inside his two main rivals could be the difference maker."

Also in the field is Three Truths (Driven by Kenny Arsenault), Keep Coming (David Dowling) and Machinthesand (Ken Murphy).

The Saturday card also features a pair of $3,000 Maritime Breeder's Eliminations for two-year-old trotters. The first elimination hits the track in race 2 with Windemerebarrister the top pick from post 4 fresh off a second place finish in the Atlantic Breeder's Crown finale. Walter Cheverie is in the bike for trainer Al McNeil and Nova Scotia owners Gregory Francis, Jennifer Baxter and Saulsbrook Stables.

Maritime champion Mile Hill Willie is favoured in the second split in race 4 leaving from post 3 for trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau and owner Paul Morrison of Cardigan, P.E.I. The top four from each elimination will advance to next week's final.

The Maritime Breeder's three-year-old trot eliminations were scheduled to be contested on the program but just seven horses entered the event. Those seven will advance directly to next week's sophomore trot final.

Fast N Victorious Defending Top Spot

SUMMERSIDE, PE – After wiring the top class last week Fast N Victorious will look to fend off any challengers in the Sunday afternoon feature at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

The 12-dash program kicks off at 1 P.M. Sunday afternoon with the top class heading behind the gate in race 11. Fast N Victorious leaves from post 2 in the $2,200 event with Corey MacPherson picking up the catch drive for trainer Stephen Gass and owners Kent and Owen Livingston of Cornwall, P.E.I.

The five-year-old son of Art Major was on top at every call in his latest start with a 1:57.1 victory by over two lengths. Mando Fun was in that same race and was a non-factor after leaving from the outside but he gets rail control on Sunday with Ken Murphy in the bike as the second choice on the morning line odds.

Race analyst Bo Ford elects to go a different direction and will side with post 3 starter Pictonian Storm after selecting him to win last week in the race won by Fast N Victorious.

"We went with Pictonian Storm last week and the trip didn't materialize the way we had hoped," Ford said. "We're going to back him up again today and look for a little value."

Also in the field is White Fish Flash (Driven by Norris Rogers) and Woodmere Ideal Art (Stephen Trites).

The Cecil Stewart Memorial pace lines up in race 7 for a $1,000 purse with Shes A Lover and owner-trainer-driver Rob Chappell of Summerside, P.E.I., selected to win from post 1.

Race 9 is the Leon Stewart Memorial pace for a $1,800 pot. Soccer Hanover gets top billing from post 5 with Murphy in the bike for trainer Leith Waite. Other top entries include Slide Guitar (David Dowling) and Salmonier Storm (Ambyr Campbell).

Catch the action live at the track or go to www.Redshores.ca for live video, race programs and more.

By Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores