Big P.E.I. Colt Stakes weekend

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Fresh off a runner-up finish in a speedy mile, Fern Hill General (Malicious) will hook onto his talented Maritime foaled foes in P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series harness racing action, presented by Kays Wholesale, Saturday evening (Aug, 24) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval has 14-dashes slated for a 6 P.M. opening post time with the $5,500 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduates Series Gold division lining up in race 13.

Fern Hill General slammed out the action in the $15,000 P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association Invitational during Old Home Week in Charlottetown and settled for second race timed in 1:52.4 behind a storming Roll Em, who won in 1:51.4. Brodie MacPhee is back at the lines of the Tom Weatherbie trained Fern Hill General for owners Peter Smith and Gerald Morrissey, as he draws post 4.

Saulsbrook Ian (Betterthancheddar) won the first leg of this series on July 27 in Charlottetown with a 1:52.3 scorcher for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Jamie Smith. The four-year-old has drawn the outside post 7 on Saturday.

Also in the field are Island Beach Boy (To be driven by Adam Merner), Malignity (Paul Langille), Bettim Again (Gilles Barrieau), Middleton Terror (David Dowling) and Rollwithhottytoddy (Myles Heffernan Sr.).

The Post Time Picks cautiously call for a Saulsbrook Ian repeat in the P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series.

“Saulsbrook Ian struggles behind the gate and has a tendency to throw his head and make a break so he’s a risky play but he’s way too talented to ignore. He’ll be tough to beat if he stays flat.”

In $4,300 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduates Series Grassroots action in race 6, Howmac Maximus gets top call from post 3 for the team of driver Damian MacLellan and trainer Tammy Collings over Impeccable Shadow (Merner) and Howmac Charmer (Paul Langille).

The second Grassroots division in race 8 has Brookdale Johnny (Langille) as the top choice from post 5 for trainer Phil Sizer. His five competitors include Pictonian I Am (Ken Murphy) and Outrageous Show (Brady Sweet).

Navalny (Merner) is top choice in race 5 Fred Lamont Memorial from post 2 for trainer Melissa Rennie and owners Dale and Ronnie Rennie.

Race 2 is the Alyre Gallant Memorial while the Omer Caissie Memorial lines up in race 4.

Races 3 and 10 are Fox Group Racing events.

Malevolent returns to Summerside for All-Stakes Sunday

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Without a single blemish on his record, Malevolent (Malicious) is back at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway for Joe O’Brien stakes action on a special all-stakes day on Sunday afternoon.

The Prince County oval has a 12-dash presentation featuring the Joe O’Brien Memorial Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and Lady Slipper Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.

Malevolent gets the top call in his $22,200 O’Brien Gold division for rookie colts, drawing post 2 for trainer-driver Paul Langille and owners Debbie Francis and Rosanne Langille of Nova Scotia. He has won all three of his career outings by open lengths including a 1:56.2 victory last week at Red Shores Charlottetown in the Atlantic Sires Stakes.

Income Approach has post 4 in the field while boasting a three-race win streak from the Rachael MacDonald barn. Marc Campbell is listed to drive the son of State Treasurer.

The other $22,200 O’Brien Gold division is in race 4 as Prince Malicious (Malicious) and driver Jason Hughes looks to build off his 1:56.4 victory last week from the Ashley Gamester barn. Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge holds the ownership papers on the son of Malicious. His top foes include One Wicked Man (Kenny Arsenault) and Phil My Beer (Campbell).

The program has $11,100 Joe O’Brien Grassroots divisions in races 7, 9 and 11.

Woodmere Flojo will seek her fourth straight win in her $20,750 Lady Slipper Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies in race 6. Adam Merner sits in the race bike for trainer Jamie Smith and owners Gowiththeflo Racing of Charlottetown. Saulsbrook Inferno (David Dowling) has been victorious her last two starts while Ruthless Diva (Campbell) has never missed the top three in her career and draws post 1.

Another Smith trainee, Lady Hess (Heston Blue Chip), will look for redemption in race 8 of the day in another $20,750 Lady Slipper Gold division. Merner drives for Groupof7 Stable of Charlottetown. The filly sports two wins and two seconds from five career starts, with her only blemish a fourth-place finish last week while recovering from an early break in stride.

Her main Sunday foes are Tobins Dream (Campbell) and Muchtooyoungforyou (David Dowling).

The $10,375 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions line up in races 1, 3, 5, 10 and 12.

Catch all the action live at the track or wager from home at HPIBet.com. Go to Redshores.ca for driver profiles, a complete racing schedule and more.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores