Bugsy Maguire returns to Summerside

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Bugsy Maguire last set foot over Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway during his 2020 Governor’s Plate triumph and will return to Prince County harness racing oval Friday evening for the track’s 135th year of live racing.

The Friday evening card has a 6 P.M. opening post time with Bugsy Maguire drawing into the preferred pace in race 10 of the 11-dash program.

The $3,200 class draws a field of six entries with Bugsy Maguire reuniting with his Governor’s Plate winning pilot, Brodie MacPhee, from post 5. Wade Sorrie trains the son of Bettor’s Delight for owner Walter Simmons of Summerside. The champion pacer has put together three wins and three seconds from six seasonal starts and is installed at 7-2 morning line odds. The favourite in the field is post 2 starter Mc Pat from the red hot Gilles Barrieau stable.

The Barrieau trained and driven pacer has a been undefeated in two starts since coming to P.E.I., and comes from a barn that has only finished worse than second once so far in 2021. Second choice on the morning line is post 6 entry Panimal Kingdom (David Dowling) from the Colin Johnson barn.

The Backstretch Beat in Friday’s program has Mc Pat placed on top of the ticket.

“Mc Pat controlled every ounce of the mile last week and sprinted home with a back half in 56.3. The competition gets even snugger every start but we think he has what it takes to bottom out his foes and smile for the camera.”

Also in the field are Chocolate Swirl (Jason Hughes), Soccer Hanover (Marc Campbell) and Screen Test (Corey MacPherson). The back-up class lines up in race Race 8 with Hunger Pangs the likely favourite after a 1:55.3 eight-length romp in his latest start for trainer Blaine McKenna and owner Susanne MacKeigan of Albert Bridge, N.S. Barrieau picks up the drive for his Friday evening start.

Other top entries include Gonna Fool Ya (Dowling) and Pictonian Storm (Campbell). Customers can purchase their tickets beginning at 12 P.M. at either Red Shores location. Catch the action live at the track or tune into the world wide broadcast at Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores