Merito Hanover gearing up for Governor’s Plate with Charlottetown debut

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Governor’s Plate hopeful Merito Hanover (Bettors Delight) comes to town and will clash with some top Atlantic bred harness racing pacers during his debut Saturday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown.

The capital oval has 11-dashes on tap for Saturday with a 6:30 P.M. opening post time for the program.

Merito Hanover will make his P.E.I. debut from post 1 in race 8 of the evening. Gilles Barrieau drives the Trevor Hicken trainee in his $2,450 assignment for new owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que. The four-year-old had been racing the Ontario circuit with a win two starts back in 1:52.3 over the half-mile Flamboro Downs oval in Dundas, Ont.

Middleton Terror (Stonebridge Terror) will loom the danger from post 2 in his first start in David Dowling barn. The three-year-old was a winner his last start in a $11,200 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Gold division for three-year-old pacing colts stopping the clock in 1:56.1 while defeated last year’s champion colt Stash It Away. Zendayacougarbeach (Cougar Hall) has post 3 fresh off a second place finish in Turner Memorial stake action in Truro where he charged home hard to finish three-quarters of a length shy of Fern Hill General. Marc Campbell is back in the bike of Zendayacougarbeach for trainer Dave Kelly Sr.

West Coast Kid (Betterthancheddar) makes his Island debut from post 6 in the field for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Philip Kelly. The four-year-old last raced in April at Western Fair Raceway in London, Ont., where he was a 1:59.2 winner and claimed by his new connections.

Peter MacPhee considers Merito Hanover the most probable winner of the night in the Post Time Picks.

“That start three back jumps off the page going wire to wire at Flamboro,” MacPhee said. “We’re wagering Gilles will want to call the shots and if they do get to boss it this could be a winning debut.”

Also in the race 8 field are Mr Rielly (by Steelhead Hanover, to be driven by Corey MacPherson), Bonitas Sunshine (Sunshine Beach, Ken Murphy), JJ Xavier (Tobago Cays, Mark Bradley) and Grand Ave Legend (Sportswriter, Adam Merner).

The evening top pace is in race 9 for a $3,000 pot with Blue Monk (Up The Credit) the top choice from post 2 for driver Campbell, trainer Jay Noye and owners Mary Jean Noye and Denise Andrew. The four-year-old was an impressive winner his last start in 1:54.4 and will now take on four foes Saturday including Good Eye Hawkeye (Hughes) and The Big Chase (MacPherson).

Catch all the action live at the track or tune into the race day show at Redshores.ca. Go to HPIBet.com to wager online.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores