Spicey P keeps getting better and better

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Since coming North, Spicey P (Up The Credit) keeps getting better and better and now takes on the Saturday afternoon (Oct. 29) featured harness racing pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The city track has 11-dashes scheduled for a 12:30 P.M. opening post time with the $3,300 Preferred pace taking to the track

in race 11.

Jason Hughes trains and drives Spicey P for owner Robi Hughes of Stratford. The four-year-old was purchased online from Monticello Raceway in New York and has hit his prime form on P.E.I. with seven top-three finishes from eight starts including a trio of victories, the fastest in 1:54.3. Spicey P has post 3 in the field as the 5-2 morning line favourite.

Navalny has been second and third at the Preferred level his last two starts in races won by No Plan Intended. That Invitational pacing star is absent this week. Adam Merner drives Navalny from post 5 on Saturday. Screen Test moves back to Charlottetown with post 6 in the field for driver Corey MacPherso. The Alberta bred son of Vertical Horizon has been racing the top level at Red Shores Summerside in recent weeks. Also in the field are Justcallmedoc (Keith Ford), Mantario (David Dowling) and Moonwriter (Marc Campbell).

The Post Time Picks side with Navalny to mow down the competition in the stretch drive.

“Navalny has faced the big dogs the past two weeks and stormed home in 28 and change both times. Slides out to post five and this is a good group, but he could come calling late and get the glory.” 

The race 11 finale will see Premier Joy A leaves off the rail while down in class for trainer Colin Johnson, driver Campbell and owner Debbie Element of Village Green. The son of Somebeachsomewhere is a four-time winner in 2022 with his fastest in 1:55.3 this season. His top rivals on Saturday are slated as Sam Mckee Hanover (MacPherson) and Hippyjohn (Kenny Arsenault).

Jeb Looks To Close Down Summerside 

SUMMERSIDE, PE – A field that boasts 205 combined lifetime wins will shut down the 2022 season at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

The Sunday program kicks off at 1 P.M. with 11-races on tap at the Prince County Oval.

The finale on the day is the $4,000 final of the P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association Fall Challenge series that hosts a collection of veteran pacers.

Jeb (Camluck – Keystone Treasure) is the morning line favourite from post 3 for trainer-driver Jason Hughes and owners Robi Hughes and Blair and Eric Maclauchlan. The 10-year-old has made 38 trips to the winner’s circle from 220 starts while banking $124,000 in his career. He was a runner-up in his elimination leg last week to Jetster (Kenny Arsenault), who starts from post 2 on Sunday. Corey MacPherson drove Jetster to elimination victory during the last live program at Red Shores Summerside but will be in Nova Scotia Sunday for stakes action.

Another MacPherson winner in elimination action was Spack Jarrow, who laid down one of the fastest quarters in the history of the Summerside Raceway while making front in 26.2 last week. The Raymond White owned pacer has won his last three starts and will get the driving talents of rookie pilot Damian MacLellan on Sunday. MacLellan has won 22 races in his rookie season with Austin Sorrie holding the overall rookie win record of 32 races on P.E.I.

The nine-horse field also includes Pineapple Express (Norris Rogers), Whims Drop Off (Myles Heffernan Sr.), Lyons Jennielee (Ken Murphy), Oh To Be Me (Adam Merner), Fern Hill Dynamic (Brady Sweet) and JK Cowboy (Dale Spence).

The Backstretch Beat thinks Spack Jarrow can continue his win streak and stretch it to four during Sunday’s final.

“Spack Jarrow has won his last three races whether it is on the front or out of a hole. Draws the middle of the pack but he just laid down one of the fastest opening quarters in the history of the Summerside Raceway to make front his last start, so post is irrelevant. Loses his regular driver but MacLellan is in the midst of one of the best rookie seasons ever on P.E.I. so we think he is more than capable of hitting the wire first.”

The dash title is on the line on the Sunday card as David Dowling leads the way at 40 wins but is also in Nova Scotia for stakes action on the card along with third place MacPherson. Murphy sits in second place with 39 wins and is driving in every dash on the day as he attempts to garner a pair of wins and claim the title for himself.

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by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores