Avatar J to face off against PEI best

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Avatar J showed up on the scene late to finish third in last week’s Governor’s Plate final and now he will face off against the best pacers on PEI in the Saturday evening feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval has a 12-dash presentation on Saturday evening with a 6 P.M. opening post time. Avatar J has drawn post 5 in the $3,100 preferred pace in race 11 with Kenny Arsenault back in the seat of the Danny MacDonald trainee for owners Jody Sanderson and Dean Larkin.

The seven-year-old American Ideal pacer was saddled with post 8 in the $25,000 Governor’s Plate final but powered past some foes to be third when the dust settled. Bugsy Maguire was also in that Governor’s Plate final and gets post 2 on Saturday night with Ken Murphy picking up the catch drive from trainer Wade Sorrie.

The 32-time winning pacer is placed at 7-2 morning line odds by race secretary Gerard Smith. Second choice is post 3 starter Cowboy Logic, who finished fourth in the Bob Dewar Memorial Governor’s Plate consolation for driver Steven Shepherd.

Saturday’s Post Time Picks has Avatar J locked in the win position.

“Avatar J has been handling the finest pacers on the Eastern Seaboard of Canada every single week and has never looked even remotely out of place. Gets a little softer company this evening so we see nothing but victory in front of him.”

Also in the preferred field are Mick Dundee (To be driven by Don MacNeill) and Winter Blast (Walter Cheverie). The back-up pace lines up in race 8 in a wide-open affair fielding eight entries with the Jackpot Hi5 ticket now being offered on this race. Messier Seelster is the top choice from post 3 with Arsenault in the seat for conditioner Jennifer Doyle.

He will face challenges from seven rivals including stablemate Mantario (Cheverie) and Trevor Hicken trainee Adkins Hanover (Ambyr Campbell). See the excitement in person Saturday evening or tune into the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca or on the Red Shores Youtube channel.

Can Screen Test pass the audition 

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Screen Test was on the edges in Governor’s Plate elimination and consolation action but will look for the whole pie Sunday afternoon in the top event at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

The featured pace carries a $3,100 purse in race 12 of the afternoon with 13-dashes scheduled at the oval kicking off at 1 P.M. Screen Test is saddled with post 7 on Sunday for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Ron Gass. The Vertical Horizon pacer found his last win at this level on June 25 in Summerside, stopping the clock in 1:54.4 for owners Kickin Horse Stable of York and William Andrew of Alberta.

Moonwriter (To be driven by David Dowling) is on the cusp of hitting $400,000 in career earnings and the veteran Colin Johnson trainee has post 8 in Sunday’s contest. Power Of A Cruiser (Myles Heffernan Sr.) rides into the class on a two-race win streak from post 3 while Best To Hurst (Gilles Barrieau) is the morning line favourite from post 6.

The Backstretch Beat in Sunday’s card uses Screen Test on top.

“Screen Test drops out of the Invitational ranks and back to where he delivered that 1:54.4 victory on June 25 at this track. This race is certainly no cakewalk but if he really comes to play there should be nothing but open road ahead of him.”

Other top class entrants are Pictonian Storm (Ken Murphy), Disneyman (Adam Merner), Hunger Pangs (Brodie MacPhee) and Soccer Hanover (Walter Cheverie). Flash In The Pang is selected on top of the second highest class of the day in race 8 carrying a $2,500 pot and featuring the Jackpot Hi5 ticket. MacPhee picks up the drive for owner-trainer Hughie Murphy of Borden-Carleton from post 6.

His main rivals are Paris Beau (Barrieau) off the rail and post 4 starter Woodmere Beachline (Murphy). Go to Redshores.ca for race programs, race dates, live video and more or watch online on the Red Shores Youtube channel. Onsite wagering is available starting at 12 P.M. on race day at Red Shores locations or at HPIBet.com.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores