Big distaff rivalries continue at Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The big girls are back in action in what is turning into one of the greatest distaff rivalries in Island harness racing history on Saturday (Dec. 17) afternoon at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The Island track has 10-dashes scheduled for a 12:30 P.M. start time with the featured Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace lining up in race 9.

Acefortyfour Dome (Up The Credit) is the morning line favourite after a second-place finish in this class last week for trainer-driver Jason Hughes and owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge. Leaving from post 4 on Saturday, the mare has been a winner at this level in four of her last six starts as she continues to trade blows with track record holder Dreamfair Zenfire.

Marc Campbell trains Dreamfair Zenfire with Corey MacPherson picking up the catch drive from post 5 on Saturday as she searches for win number 12 of the season and currently sits at 47 lifetime wins. Campbell will drive post 2 entry Plain Jane, also from his own stable.

Write One (Sportswriter) will make things interesting in her Island debut as she draws the rail after shipping in from Rideau Carleton Raceway outside Ottawa. The four-year-old mare was a winner in 1:54 earlier in the season at the five-eighths oval and shows opening quarters in 27 flat. Her driver Myles Heffernan Sr., will be sure to utilize that early speed and improve on her 6-1 morning line odds.

Share The Moment returns to racing action from post 3 as the co-holder of the Red Shores Summerside track record gets the driving services of Gilles Barrieau.

The Post Time Picks are leaning Acefortyfour Dome’s way to get it all.

“Acefortyfour Dome has been razor sharp all season long and has found the win column 12 times in 2022. It will be green light go and if she does secure the lead, it could be another wire-to-wire score.” 

Race 8 is the $2,600 featured Trot with Windmeredontuworry favoured all the way from post 8 with MacPherson driving for trainer Phil Desroche and owner Leah Ann Moyer of Summerside. His top rivals are slated as Freddie (To be driven by Campbell) from post 7 and Incredible Two (Kenny Arsenault) with post 5.

Dancers Pass will make the final start of her career in race 5 of the day. The 19-time winner has post 2 in the final start of her career as owners John MacKenzie of Springvale and Phil Kelly of North Wiltshire have plans to breed the 11-year-old daughter of Ashlees Big Guy in the Spring. David Dowling will sit behind Dancers Pass for her final start.

Blood Money Aims to Stomp Feature 

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Blood Money will try to make the trip from Orwell a winning one in the Preferred Pace Sunday afternoon at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval has 10-dashes scheduled for Sunday starting off at 12:30 P.M.

The $3,500 Preferred Pace will see Blood Money (Sweet Lou) leaving from post 5 for his second start back in the Marc Campbell Stable of Orwell. The six-year-old was an open-length winner in 1:54.4 in his latest start after rejoining the Campbell barn. Campbell drives the 19-time winner for owner Dr. Mitchell Downey of Saint John, N.B.

Mantario has rail control with Jason Hughes in the bike in the absence of regular driver David Dowling. The Jennifer Doyle trainee has captured the top pace three times in recent starts. Screen Test was an upset winner in the latest Preferred Pace and has post 2 on Sunday for driver Corey MacPherson.

Burn Out Hanover (Brady Sweet) has post 3 while Moonwriter (Keith Ford) leaves from post 4.

The Post Time Picks are taking a different route, looking to the outside post 6 at Navalny (Adam Merner) to get it all.

“We loved the way Navalny raced two back storming home in 28.3 to nab the deuce. He’s back in the same spot and if Merner keeps him close there could be an upset brewing in the Sunday afternoon feature.” 

JK Last Chance (So Surreal) will try to extend his win streak to four-straight in race 3 of the program. Kenny Arsenault trains and drives the lightly raced five-year-old for Daniel MacIsaac of Charlottetown. A four-time winner from six starts this season, JK Last Chance has only made 18 lifetime starts but boasts a 1:50.3 career best taken at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 2020. Other top choices in the $2,500 contest are Tradition (Merner) and Ironside Seelster (MacPherson).

Catch all the action live at the track or tune into the Race Day broadcast at Redshores.ca. Online wagering is available at HPIBet.com.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores