Bettor Than Spring, Nothing Bugs Me face off

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Live harness racing continues Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park with the $3,850 Omer Caissie Memorial and a deep Preferred 2 pace as the evening highlights.

The 12-dash program kicks off at 6 P.M.

The Preferred 2 Pace in race 11 will be one of the most competitive contests of the card with five talented starters squaring off for the $4,700 purse.

Western Canadian bred Nothing Bugs Me is the 5-2 morning line favourite with rail control. David Dowling has the reins for trainer Vaughan Doyle on the Custard The Dragon four-year-old, who has won his last four starts including the Joe and Wal Hennessey Memorial during Old Home Week in Charlottetown. Nothing Bugs Me has been forwardly placed in nearly every outing this season and will be dangerous with rail control to set the tempo.

Better Than Spring will try to spoil the party as the 3-1 second choice from post 5 for driver Myles Heffernan Sr. and trainer Trevor Hicken. The Bettors Delight gelding has been in strong form this season, last racing in the James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer Consolation.

House Edge Hanover (To be driven by Ken Murphy) has post 4 looms as a major contender at 7-2 for trainer Ronald Matheson. The Betting Line gelding has been consistently hitting the board in this class, including a recent third-place finish where he fired home in 28.2.

Also in the field are JK Last Chance (Mike McGuigan) with post 2 from the Kenny Arsenault barn along with Pendleton Rodeo who has post 3 for trainer-driver Adam Merner.

The Backstretch Beat sides with the Hicken trained Bettor Than Spring.

“Bettor Than Spring had a brutal trip in his Gold Cup and Saucer trial and a horrible post in the consolation. He’s a great horse, and great horses can bounce back quickly, so he’ll be tough to beat.”

Earlier on the card, the Omer Caissie Memorial in race 6 will line up six starters with Navalny (Brady Sweet) the morning line choice over T H Boomtown (David Dowling) and Sports Teller (Adam Merner).

Online wagering is available through HPIBET.COM. Full card details and programs are at Redshores.ca.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores