Rockin Novel, MacLellan favoured on Canada Day

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Rockin Novel (Mystery Chase) and rookie driver Damian MacLellan have the target on their backs as the ones to beat in the Canada Day Pace on a special Friday afternoon July 1 harness racing program at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

There will also be Canada Day treats for fans,  prize draws for souvenir t-shirts and Governor’s Plate swag. On track customers can tag their Canada Day ticket on each race for a chance to win $50 on the Wild Horses jackpots throughout the afternoon.

The Prince County half-miler has 13-dashes slated for a 1 P.M. (AST) start time with the Canada Day Pace lining up in race 11 of the afternoon.

Rockin Novel is the top choice in the $2,300 event from post 3 as he rides six-straight on-the-board finishes into the dash. The Alberta-sired gelding has won two races since relocating to P.E.I. for trainer-driver MacLellan, who shares ownership in the pacer with Danny Birt of Earnscliffe. His top rivals in the historic Canada Day Pace are Heart And Soul (To be driven by Walter Cheverie) and Silver Jake (Devon Wallace).

The race 13 finale is set to be a hotly contested $2,900 dash with Three Truths (Shadow Play) the morning line favourite fresh off a trio of second-place finishes for trainer Kyle Wilkie and owners Jason Rice, Tara Harper and Tyler and Ryan Wilkie. Jason Hughes gets the catch driving call this week. Multiple top class winner Nogreatmischief (Bettors Delight) has the rail for trainer-driver Cheverie while Boys Turn (Shadow Play, David Dowling) leaves from post 7 after winning his last start in 1:55.1.

The Backstretch Beat in Friday’s program leans another way and pegs Winter Blast (Sand Shooter) for the top spot from post 3 for driver MacLellan and conditioner Jennifer Doyle.

“Winter Blast made up a pile of ground in a quick mile his last start and has shown us in the past how much he loves the front end. From post 3 that could easily be where he is heading so watch out that he doesn’t get it all.”

Race 12 has the $3,300 Preferred 2 pace with Screen Test (Vertical Horizon) the top choice from post 5 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Ron Gass. His top rivals in the field are five are viewed as Merito Hanover (Bettors Delight, Hughes) and Mantario (Sportswriter, MacLellan).

A number of Ontario pacers have their hooves planted on P.E.I. and will face off with some top P.E.I. flavour in an incredible Saturday evening preferred pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval has 11-dashes slated for a 6:30 P.M. start time with Beachin Lindy (Somebeachsomewhere) the morning line favourite in the $3,500 Preferred pace from post 3 after a second-place finish in his Cecil Ladner division last week in Charlottetown. Stephen Charlton owns, trains and drives the seven-year-old who has banked over $40,000 this season racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario.

His main competition is expected to come from post 5 starter No Plan Intended (Up The Credit), owned by Carl Jamieson of Ontario and Brian Paquet of Quebec. Colin Johnson now trains the four-year-old with David Dowling listed to drive. The pacer was a six-time winner so far in 2022 with over $81,000 in seasonal purse earnings after winning his last four starts at Woodbine. Post 8 belongs to Racemup (Whatayasay) for trainer Victor Puddy with Brodie MacPhee back in the driver’s seat after steering the 30-time winner to a fourth-place finish in the 2021 Gold Cup and Saucer final.

The Saturday Post Time Picks have No Plan Intended selected on top of the Super Hi-5 ticket.

“No Plan Intended rides a four-race win streak into this one and just beat top contender Beachin Lindy the last time they faced each other at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Dowling will put him in play early and barring anything unexpected we should see him grinning for his photo.”

Also in the field are Legendary Ron (To be driven by Dale Spence), Burn Out Hanover (Brady Sweet), The Rev (Gilles Barrieau), Blue Monk (Marc Campbell and Rose Run Quest (Adam Merner).

Island Beach Boy (Somebeachsomewhere) is the favourite in the $2,900 back-up pace in race 7 as the winner of nine races and $103,711 leaves from post 4 for trainer-driver Barrieau and owners Ian Smith of Stratford and Arnold Hagen of Bible Hill, N.S. He has five opponents Saturday including Cowboy Logic (Steven Shepherd) and Ashes To Ashes (Ken Murphy).

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

For complete Summerside entries, click here.

For complete Charlottetown entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, For Red Shores