Rivalry continues at Red Shores

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The hottest horse on the East Coast will face off against the 2021 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation winner in the rescheduled Sunday afternoon (Jan. 9) harness racing feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 13-dash program was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon but was moved by racing officials to Sunday at 12:30 due to an impending weather system.

The $3,200 preferred pace hits the track in race 12 with Sock It Away getting top billing from the outside post 5 for driver Marc Campbell, trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. The son of Pang Shui was a winner his last three starts in preferred action but will have a very capable foe to his inside on Sunday.

Mikey Camden was superb his last time in Charlottetown with a 1:52 Gold Cup and Saucer consolation win over a windy track in August. David Dowling was in the bike that day and he will remain there for the Camluck pacer’s Atlantic Canadian return with Colin Johnson now handling the training duties.

Mikey Camden last raced on Dec. 15 at Flamboro Downs winning in 1:56.1 off the front. The Rev is selected as third choice in the program leaving from post 3 with Gilles Barrieau driving his trainee after winning the top class on New Year’s Eve.

Peter MacPhee will side with Sock It Away for the top spot in the Post Time Picks. “Campbell rolled him to the front last time and they never looked back going coast to coast in 1:54.4. He may not get that trip this time but with the way he can fly home we say four in row.”

Also in the field are My Land (To be driven by Jason Hughes) with rail control and Bugsy Maguire (Corey MacPherson) with post 4. Slate N makes his East Coast debut in race 7 for new trainer Jennifer Doyle, who co-owns the son of Changeover with Danny Birt of Earnscliffe.

A winner of three races in North America, Slate N came from New Zealand at the start of 2020 to race the Ontario circuit. Hughes will drive the horse Sunday from post 2 at 4-1 morning line odds.

Ladylike (Dowling) is the 5-2 morning line choice to lead off the on-track Pick 5 promotion in race 6 which now carries a jackpot of $1000 to the player that can correctly pick the winners on races 6 thru 10.

The special events committee with the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association and Pick 5 sponsor PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association teamed up to launch this new promotion. The jackpot will continue to grow until the end of the winter meet January 29th.

Catch all the action live at the track or tune into the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca. Live streaming is also available at the Red Shores Youtube page and online wagering can be found at HPIBet.com.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores