Maritime Breeder’s Final at Red Shores

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – One of the greatest harness racing trotting rivalries in the history of Atlantic Canadian harness racing will come to a close on Saturday afternoon in the Maritime Breeder's Final at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 13-dash Saturday program has a 12:30 P.M. opening post time featuring a smattering of Maritime Breeders Action. The $11,000 three-year-old trot final lines up in race 6 of the day with Tequila Tuesday and Mabou Ridge meeting for the final time in stakes action after trading blows every week the past two years.

Post 2 has Mabou Ridge and trainer-driver Clare MacDonald, who have been victorious more times than his rival the past two seasons but Tequila Tuesday has bounced up both years to crown himself Atlantic Sires Stakes champion.

Myles Heffernan Sr., holds the lines of Tequila Tuesday from the coveted post 1 on Saturday in the final Atlantic trot stake of their careers. Trotting filly Go With Her (To be driven by Brodie MacPhee) has knocked on the door every week all year, beating both Tequila Tuesday and Mabou Ridge on occasion, but has never gotten the best of both colts at the same time. This will be her final crack to defeat them both.

Peter MacPhee with the Post Time Picks has Mabou Ridge in position to get the final say in the divisional rivalry. "Mabou Ridge has put together a tidy season with six wins, over $33,000 in earnings, and a record of 1:58.1. He could be set up for a pocket ride today and if that's the case there's a good chance he reaches up and wins again."

Race 2 has the Maritime Breeders two-year-old trot final for an $11,500 pot. Mr Finlay Ridge is the morning line favourite from post 6 for trainer-driver MacDonald while his main rival, Dusty Lane Milo, has post 5 for driver Adam Merner.

The day also features Maritime Breeders elimination for the three-year-old pacing colts and fillies. The colts have eliminations in races 9 and 11, while the fillies have eliminations in races 4 and 8. The top four in each elimination will advance to next week's final.

The Cecil Ladner Memorial lines up in race 12 for a $6,000 purse. Time To Dance is the top choice from post 6 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell as the horse looks for his eighth straight victory.

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

Top Pacers Square Off In Summerside

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Dropping out of preferred 1 company, Mantario will look to rule the roost Sunday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

With 13-dashes on tap Sunday afternoon in Summerside, the program will kick off at 1 P.M. The $2,900 Preferred 2 pace hits the track as the feature in race 12 with Mantario the morning line favourite from post 2. David Dowling drives the son of Sportswriter for trainer Jennifer Doyle, who co-owns the pacer with Danny Birt of Earnscliffe.

Mantario attacked first-over in his latest outing but fell short in with top notch company like Rose Run Quest and Screen Test. Heart And Soul has been superb all season and gets Jason Hughes back at the lines on Sunday from post 4 for trainer George Riley as the Atlantic Champion looks for win number seven of the season. Cowboy Logic (Driven by Steven Shepherd) was victorious his last start at this level and gets post 5 on Sunday.

The Backstretch Beat in Sunday's race program pegs Mantario for the top spot. "Admittedly there is no real standout in this group, it's just a field of six very nice horses where anything is possible. With Mantario having just came first up in the preferred 1 and hanging for a spot on the board we think he can get it all today."

Also in the featured field are Pictonian Storm (Ken Murphy), Woodmere Chella (Gilles Barrieau) and Soccer Hanover (Corey MacPherson).

The driver's race at the Prince County oval remains tight with MacPherson currently clinging to a one-race lead with 28 wins on the season. Dowling is in second place at 27 wins while Adam Merner is just two races back of the lead at 26 wins. Hughes chimes in fourth at 24 wins with Marc Campbell in fifth at 20 wins.

Catch all the action on the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.

By Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores