By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The Winter Break is over and the moment race fans have been waiting for comes Saturday evening on the first live program of the 2025 Spring Meet at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The capital oval will feature 12-dashes with a 6 P.M., opening post time on the launch of the Spring Racing Season.
Tony Too Tall is the favourite in the race 11 $4,550 featured pace with Myles Heffernan Sr., steering the Trevor Hicken trainee from post 6 for owner Perry Burke of Quebec. The nine-year-old son of Big Bad John was a four-time winner in 2024 and has already notched two wins this calendar year before racing came to a close the end of January.
The Post Time Picks like post 2 entry Bacononabiscuit (To be driven by Adam Merner) off a second-place finish in his qualifier while race timed in 1:56.2. The winner of that qualifier was Blood Money (Gilles Barrieau), who has post 3 in this field.
“Bacononabiscuit sat in the pocket following Blood Money in his qualifier and was only beaten by a nose at the finish. He closed strong in 27.3 in that losing effort. The pace should be quicker this week, and he should get a pocket ride again from post two, so I’m betting he gets up for the win.”
Also in the featured field is One Eight Hundred (Mike Downey), Jewels Dragon (Marc Campbell) And Tradition (Gordie Hennessey).
The program featured some new additions to Island racing with fresh stock being brought in from out of jurisdiction.
Louie The Great (Corey MacPherson) debuts in race 2 for new trainer Les Waite after making all nine of his lifetime starts in Ontario. The trainer co-owns the son of Dancin Lou with Leith Waite.
Max Patrick (Heffernan Sr.) has post 3 in race 3 of the evening for new owner-trainer Allan Gregory. The winner of four races sports a 1:53.1 lifetime best taken over Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Race 7 has Hes Touring (Jaycob Sweet) for new owner-trainer Clair Sweet of O’Leary. The Hes Watching seven-year-old last competed at The Raceway at Western Fair District in Ontario.
Sports Teller (Merner) has his Island debut in race 9 after winning in 1:52.2 over Scioto Downs in Ohio last season. Rebecca MacLeod co-owns with Mike Arsenault, Joey Farrell and Gabby MacNevin.
Miss Maddie P (Todd Walsh) has post 3 in race 10 for the partnership of trainer Walsh, Lance Jones, Donnie Macfadyen and Shawn McAdam. The five-year-old Fear The Dragon mare has 16-lifetime wins and last competed in Ohio.
The final dash of the evening will see Mr Matt Major N (Merner) leave off the rail for new owner Herve Lajoie of New Brunswick. The American Ideal seven-year-old was racing in Ontario in January after competing in the U.S., where he won in 1:50.2 over Hoosier Park in Indiana in 2024.
Red Shores Summerside will feature “Breakfast With The Babies” on Sunday morning (May 4) with a 9 A.M. start time. The morning session features 16 horses across five-dashes.
For the complete live racing calendar, live video, free race programs and much more visit our Racing home.
