Charlottetown and Summerside in full swing

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Bugsy Maguire will look to get everything his own way again in the Saturday night Preferred Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval will host nine harness rawcing dashes on Saturday evening getting underway at 6 P.M.

Bugsy Maguire is assigned the outside post 5 in the race 8 preferred pace after winning the class his last two starts. Marc Campbell will pick up the catch drive in the $3,400 feature from the Wade Sorrie stable for owner Walter Simmons of Summerside. The Bettor’s Delight seven-year-old was driven aggressively the first two starts of the meet by Austin Sorrie, grabbing the lead and creating some fractions and now Campbell will look to engineer the horse’s third straight win.

GA Speed Sammy makes his second P.E.I. start in the race from post 1 for driver David Dowling and trainer Colin Johnson. The winner of 22 races from 61 career starts was fourth in his Red Shores debut after being off since March 22.

Avatar J (to be driven by Gilles Barrieau) was a runner-up his first two starts of the season to Bugsy Maguire and will get post 4 Saturday.

Peter MacPhee puts Bugsy Maguire on top of his Post Time Picks. “Bugsy Maguire has been razor sharp to start the meet and was very impressive going gate to wire last time,” MacPhee said. “Gets a new pilot this week and with the NHL playoffs underway he’s looking to score a natural hat trick.” Also in the field are Chocolate Swirl (Jason Hughes) and Screen Test (Corey MacPherson).

Taladega Seelster makes his first Island start in race 5 with Barrieau picking up the steer of the Philip Kelly trainee at 6-1 morning line odds. A winner of 10 races and $49,586 in prize money, he is now owned by Kelly along with John MacKenzie, Lynn MacLaren and Allan McGuigan.

Island pacing stallion Source Of Pride will return to the racetrack in race 6 with Barrieau driving for trainer Earl Watts and owner Howmac Farms of North Wiltshire. The 11-year-old son of American Ideal last saw the starting gate in November of 2016 at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey.

Mc Pat is another fresh face in race 9 with Barrieau in the sulky for New Brunswick owners Everette Hanson and Donald Stevenson at 3-1 odds. The Delmarvalous pacer was a 1:51.2 winner last season at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario and now finds himself in the Barrieau stable.

Customers can drop by Red Shores Charlottetown or Summerside locations to buy their tickets starting at 12 Noon for May, June & July.

Top Entrants Draw Outside In Red Shores Summerside Opener

SUMMERSIDE, PE – The 2021 season kicks off Monday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway for a special Victoria Day holiday program.

The 10-dash presentation has a 1 P.M. opening post time with top Prince County pacer Heart And Soul favoured in the race 9 preferred pace.

The $3,100 class has Heart And Soul drawing the outside in the compact field of five with Jason Hughes at the lines for owner Riley Farms of Summerside and trainer George Riley. The champion son of Western Paradise has seven wins from 20 starts last year and will look to bring that consistency back this season.

Moonwriter makes his first East Coast start from post 4 with David Dowling at the lines of the Colin Johnson trainee. The veteran son of Sportswriter has 23 wins and career earnings approaching the $400,000 mark.

Soccer Hanover finished a closing third in his 2021 debut in the preferred class in Charlottetown and gets Corey MacPherson back aboard from post 3 Monday for the Waite stable.

The Backstretch Beat in Monday’s card has Heart And Soul pegged as the top entry. “Heart And Soul saw the Red Shores Summerside winner’s circle lots last season, doing it from the back or on the lead, it did not seem to matter. His versatile style should work to his advantage again today with so many variables at play.” Also in that preferred field are Best To Hurst (To be driven by Taylor Doyle) and Hunger Pangs (Marc Campbell).

Race 7 has the back-up class of the day with Kataparka the one to beat from post 6. Campbell will be in the seat for trainer Ron Gass and Island owners Jeremy Hoffman and Lynn Livingstone along with Alberta residents Jeffrey Campbell and Kevin Teasdale. The Well Said four-year-old has been superb since coming East, winning his first start handily then hanging around for fourth in his latest outing after being parked three-wide before clearing to the lead. Other top entries in that class are Ubettimagoodone (Hughes) and Hes Marvalous (Myles Heffernan Sr.).

Customers can drop by Red Shores Charlottetown or Summerside locations to buy their tickets starting at 12 Noon for May, June & July. On track customers will be treated to a Customer Appreciation Day promotion presented by the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association with prizes being donated by Noonan Petroleum, Summerside Toyota and Fiveeleven West. Summerside Chrysler Dodge, title sponsor of the Governor’s Plate, is giving fans the opportunity to win tickets to Grassroots & Cowboy Boots fundraiser which includes a lobster dinner and a chance to win a new Jeep.

For more information go to Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores