Top mares race for top spot in feature

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – A hard-hitting field of Open pacing mares will go toe-to-toe in the top-pacing event on the Saturday afternoon card at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

First race post time is 12:30 PM for the 13-dash card with the Open mares competing in the race 9 Willow Warrior retirement pace for a $2,350 purse. Sam is the favourite with Jason Hughes training and driving for owner Foxyhall Racing of Wallace, N.S., from post 2. The four-year-old daughter of Dragon Again has been exceptional since relocating to the East Coast with seven straight wins in her first seven starts, then tasting defeat last week for the first time at the hoofs of Ramblinglily. With that foe out of the picture, Sam has been installed as the race favourite by classifier Gerard Smith and race analyst Les MacIsaac.

"Her undefeated local streak finally came to an end last week but there's no shame in losing to the one that beat her," MacIsaac said of Sam. "Be prepared for her to start a new one."

Also in the field is U.S. invader Taylor Rei with post 1 for trainer Bo Sowers and driver Marc Campbell. The seven-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Rei was racing at Scarborough Downs and Bangor Raceway in Maine. Other entries include General Luckypercy (Ron Matheson), Sendmeasign (Kenny Arsenault), Best Risque (Walter Cheverie) and Brodys Leona (Corey MacPherson).

The race will also see the official retirement ceremony for four-year-old mare Willow Warrior, who was a regular with this group until she was involved in a race accident in July at the Summerside Raceway and made one start back this fall before her connections decided to hang up her harness. Regular driver Mark Bradley will parade the Western Terror mare one last time before the Open Mares race. Willow Warrior was trained by Brendan Curran for owner Alby Curran of Alberry Plains.

The top conditioned pace of the day lines up in race 12 with eight pacers facing off for a $2,100 pot. Bazillion rides a two-race win streak into the event for trainer Trevor Hicken and owners Kent Livingston of Cornwall with Brian MacPhee handling the driving duties. The Village Jolt gelding will have to overcome the outside post eight while handling a group of seven foes including post 2 starter The Big Bite (Arsenault) and post 6 contender Motorino (Terry Gallant).

The trot class on the card goes to the gate in race 4 with Osprey Impact favoured from post 5 over Howmacs Pride (Arsenault) and Hopedale Dora (Joey Pineau). Osprey Impact is coming off a qualifying win for owner-trainer-driver Paul Larabee in the eight-horse field.

SUNDAY CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Dominant.

That's the only word to describe All Turain's performance in last three races. The six-year-old son of Tell All has been unbeaten lately racing the best currently lining up on Canada's Eastern seaboard and will try his luck again Sunday afternoon preferred at Red Shores Charlottetown. First race post time is 12:30 PM for the 11-dash card with All Turain being assigned the outside post 9 in the race 10 feature race for a $2,350 purse. Corey MacPherson will hold the lines of the streaking pacer for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Lee Hicken of Charlottetown. Race analyst Les MacIsaac is all over All Turain to get the job done a fourth time in a row.

"When a post position is assigned that should tell you just how much better a horse is than his rivals at the present time," MacIsaac said of All Turain. "He's sitting on three in a row and looking for four."

Also in the field are Forever Paradise (Marc Campbell), Cambest Kisser (Jason Hughes), Waterside Light (Kenny Arsenault), Painted Desert (Mark Bradley) and Mach Wheel (Walter Cheverie).

The open trotters put their noses on the gate in race 4 on the card. The $1,950 event has Caliban Hanover narrowly favoured over Holy Molie Maggie from post 5 and 6, respectively in the field of half-a-dozen. Caliban Hanover will have Cheverie in the bike for trainer Ron Gass and owner Wendell MacDonald of Cornwall, while Gary Chappell will handle Holy Molie Maggie for owner-trainer Jeff Holmes of Orwell. The trotters have been taking turns visiting the winner's circle in recent weeks and will have four other foes in Neal (Brian Andrew), I Aint No Lady (MacPherson), Majian Chester (Jim Ripley) and Parkhill Jugernaut (Ambyr Campbell).

For entries, results and race programs go to www.redshores.ca

By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores