Sodwana Bay seeks to be boss again

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – When it comes to aged harness racing pacing mares on the East Coast, Sodwana Bay has been the boss the past few years and will look for another victory against a deep group Thursday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 12-dash Thursday card has a 6 P.M. start time featuring the $2,800 Fillies and Mares Open pace in race 11. Sodwana Bay has post 4 in the field of six talented mares with trainer Gilles Barrieau back in the race bike for owners Wayne MacRae of Nova Scotia and Howmac Farms Ltd of North Wiltshire.

The seven-year-old No Pan Intended mare was a 13-time winner from 25 seasonal starts in 2019 and currently has a pair of victories from six starts this calendar year. Berazzled will guard the rail with David Dowling picking up the catch drive for trainer Jonah Moase after cutting out a 55.4 half in her latest to fade at the end of the mile.

Woodmere Chella is the morning line favourite from post 2 with Dale Spence being called on to drive for conditioner Marvyn Webster. The Articulator lass was a runner-up in her latest race, pacing her own mile in 1:54.3 in Charlottetown while being bested by Arc Light. Adam Merner will drive Arc Light from the Marc Campbell stable with post 3 while stable mate Dreamfair Zenfire has the outside post 6 with Campbell at the lines.

Post 5 belongs to Lyons Jennielee and driver Myles Heffernan Sr., who just dead-heated for second in the top class at Inverness Raceway in Nova Scotia her last start.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac takes a hunch that Sodwana Bay will land back on top in Thursday's pacing feature.

"As great as she is, the first over trip last week was simply too much to overcome," MacIsaac said of Sodwana Bay. "She's had enough starts since coming off the bench that she should be just about where she wants to be from a conditioning standpoint and a smoother journey could put her back in the winner's circle."

Race 8 will see the return of Atlantic Triple Crown winner Filly Forty Seven to the Campbell stable. The now six-year-old daughter of Proven Lover will have rail control as she makes the move back East after competing in Ontario all season.

For race programs and more go to Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores