CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – If a record exists Marc Campbell seems determined to break it in the 2017 racing season, adding to his totals on the Weekend Of Champions at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes season culminated in the 2017 AtlanticBreeder’s Crown finals Sunday afternoon at the capital oval with Campbell winning five races on the day and becoming the richest driver in Atlantic Canadian racing history. After the weekend of racing, Campbell now sits at $504,546 in seasonal purse earnings, eclipsing the previous record of $484,052 in earnings by a driver set by Kenny Arsenault during the 2009 season. The ‘King’ of Island racing, Campbell kicked off Championship Sunday winning the $9,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown three-year-old trot, sponsored by Meridian Farms, with Pappy Go Go in a huge parked out effort of 1:59.4. The gritty son of Tad The Stud is still undefeated on the season as he won his 10th straight race in 2017 for trainer Campbell and owner Grayland Farms of Pugwash, N.S.

Filly Forty Seven repeated her 2016 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown performance, winning the $20,000 three-year-old pacing filly crown in 1:55.3 for trainer-driver Campbell and owners Darryl MacLean of Winsloe, Katelyn Smallwood of Stratford, Cory Carver of Montague and Nova Scotia owner Tanya Tremblett of Sydney Mines.

Island Energetic posted a mild upset at 3-1 in 1:56.1 in the $20,000 three-year-old pacing colt final for trainer-driver Campbell and owners Bernadette Burgess of Dartmouth, N.S., and Grayland Farms.

Campbell’s other wins came in the $5,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown Invitational pace with a 1:54.1 victory aboard Elm Grove Kaboom for trainer Earl Smith of Hunter River and in a $1,600 conditioned pace with Painted Pony for Raymond White of Murray River.

In other Championship action, Half Cut set a new two-year-old pacing colt track record, winning his $20,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown final in a 1:55.2 romp by seven-lengths for driver Mark Bradley, trainer Tom Weatherbie and owners Kyle Gardiner and Mike Currie of Cardigan, Joseph Gardiner of Mount Stewart and Jerry MacKinnon of St. Peter’s Bay.

Woodmere Ceilidh crowned herself champion in the two-year-old pacing filly division, winning her $20,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown in 1:57.1 for trainer-driver Clare MacDonald and owner Chris Neville of Sydney, N.S.

The $9,000 two-year-old trot final, sponsored by Meridian Farms, went to Windemeredontuworry with a 2:00.3 score for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer and co-owner Terry Gallant and co-owner Eric Johnston of Summerside.

Kennel Buddy was victorious in the $2,500 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown Open trot in 1:59.4 for trainer, driver and owner David Dowling. Ramblinglily scored win number 55 of her career in the $3,500 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown Open Pacing Mares with a time of 1:55.4 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Allan Jones of New Brunswick.

Trainer Tom Weatherbie had two winners on the program as Dial The Bossman (Driven by Jason Hughes) was a winner in 1:56.1. Corey MacPherson scored two driving wins on the 14-dash card.

Oct. 7, 2017

Consolation Action Sees Lifetime Bests

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The Atlantic Breeder’s Crown consolations highlighted the Saturday afternoonprogram at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park with some new speed badges earned on the card.

JJ Powerball has a new career best after a 1:57.1 win in the $5,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown consolation for two-year-old pacing colts. Marc Campbell engineered the nine-length win for trainer Austin Sorrie and owners Walter Simmons of Summerside and Tammy Collings of Hazel Brook.

The $5,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown consolation for two-year-old pacing fillies saw Tobins Terror deliver as the favorite as one of two wins on the card for trainer-driver Gary Chappell. Owned by Boyd MacDonald Produce Ltd., of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast, the time of the mile was a lifetime best of 1:59.1 for the daughter of Stonebridge Terror.

Glenview Paisley got up for a neck decision in the $5,000 three-year-old pacing filly consolation in a time of 1:58.4. The daughter of Immachulate was driven by Ernie Laffin for trainer Dave Carey and owner Ronald Harris of Truro, N.S.

Cowboys Dont Cry went gate-to-wire in a 1:55.3 career best performance with Corey MacPherson in the race bike in the $5,000 three-year-old pacing colt consolation. Kevin MacLean trains the pacer for owners Reg MacPherson and David MacKenzie of Stratford and Aaron MacKenzie of Winsloe.

Gilles Barrieau and Campbell also scored driving doubles on the card.

By Nicholas Oakes

 

Summerside, PE – Likely to Win has received top billing in the special Thanksgiving Day pace at Red Shores Summerside Monday. Post time is 1pm.

The Melissa Rennie trainee has been putting up some solid numbers and comes in to the race with six wins from 26 starts and a third place finish in a dazzling 1:54.3 over Charlottetown on September 23^rd. Driver Adam Merner will handle the son of Western Terror from post 4 for owners Blenise Young, Lester Campbell, NS, and Jeffery Campbell of Alberta. The competitive field also includes rail sitter Instant Shadow for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Sifroi Melanson along with heavy weights Rash B Havior (Marc Campbell) and Machinthesand (Ken Murphy). Allstar Seelster and Keep Coming are also part of the line-up.

The Prince County Horsemen’s Club have organized a family day component to the afternoon card which includes an opportunity for one family to go trackside and present the cooler in the Summerside Family Day Pace. Race analysts Bo Ford with the Backstretch Beat and classifier Gerard Smith have landed on different horses for their top choice. Ford favors All Access, owned by Foxyhall Racing, Summerside, PE, while Smith leans on Windemere Johnny out of the two hole for Gary Chappell and conditioner Phil Sizer.

The trotters will open up the holiday card at the Prince County oval with Zip The Lip getting the nod as the one to beat. The nine-year-old is fresh off a convincing win at Charlottetown. Brian MacPhee gets the assignment from trainer-owner Orville Willis of O’Leary, PEI.

The family day activities get underway at 12Noon with children’s entertainment, face painting and cake. Families can fill out a ballot for a chance to present the winning cooler in race 6.

By Lee Drake

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The 2017 Weekend Of Champions kicks off Saturday afternoon at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park featuring 11-dashes including the Atlantic Breeder’s Crown consolations for two and three-year-old pacers.

The card kicks off at 12:30 P.M. with the $5,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown consolations in races 4, 6, 8 and 10 featuring the top performers of the Atlantic Sires Stakes season who did not make the top eight spots for Sunday’s championship finals. Mick Dundee has shown on numerous occasions he can tussle with the top colts and that earns him the status as morning line favorite in the race 10 three-year-old pacing colt consolation. Don MacNeill of Charlottetown owns, trains and drives the son of Aahm Canadian Now with him leaving from post 5 in Saturday’s contest.

Shesaroyal Cowgirl is top choice in the race 8 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown three-year-old pacing filly consolation for trainer-driver Mark Bradley and owner William Andrew of Calgary, Alta. The post 4 starter will battle seven foes.

The first crop of Image Of Dawn has been well represented by JJ Powerball who is the early favorite in the race 6 two-year-old pacing colt consolation for trainer Austin Sorrie and owners Walter Simmons of Summerside and Tammy Collings of Hazel Brook. Leading driver Marc Campbell picks up the drive on the three-time winner as regular driver Gordie Hennessey has elected to drive fellow Sorrie trainee Dustylanesam off the rail.

Woodmere Saphire closes out her two-year-old Atlantic Sires Stakes season with post 4 in the race 4 two-year-old filly consolation. Gilles Barrieau drives the daughter of Articulator for trainer Jackie Matheson and New Brunswick owners

Thomas McGuffog and Bruce MacDonald of Fredericton and  Geoffrey Macneish of Douglas.

Saturday will also see a sold-out banquet presented by the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association starting at 7 p.m. in the Top of the Park restaurant at Red Shores. The event will celebrate the achievements of several stars of the Atlantic Canadian breeding industry and four Atlantic Canadian racing families will be honoured.

From New Brunswick, the family of Steve Mahar has been involved with standardbreds for over 50 years. Steve is the winningest driver from New Brunswick with over 5,000 victories in the sulky. From Newfoundland and Labrador, the Sheppard family will be recognized for their long involvement with standardbred racing. The Polley family of Amherst, Nova Scotia, who have experienced success locally and across North America, will be lauded. The MacDonald family from Charlottetown, PEI lived a block from the Charlottetown Driving Park and from the late 1960s, and brothers Mike and Paul would provide many memorable moments on the nearby racetrack and beyond.

Championship Finals Set For Action

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The saying in harness racing goes ‘It All Comes Down To The Breeder’s Crown.’

The Sunday afternoon program at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park will be the main event on the Weekend Of Championships with the culmination of the 2017 Atlantic Sires Stakes season in the Atlantic Breeder’s Crown finals.

First race post time is 12:30 P.M. for the 14-dash program.

The $9,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown finals for trotters line up in races 3 and 5 sponsored by Meridian Farms. Pappy Go Go has been on another world all season as he rides a nine-race win streak into the race 5 $9,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown three-year-old trot final from post 6 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Grayland Farm of Pugwash, N.S.

Another Campbell trainee, Buckaroo, gets morning line status in the race 3 two-year-old trot Breeder’s Crown from post 7 for owners Larry and Kathy Chappell of Marshfield. The $9,000 event will see Buckaroo battle with arch rival Ticked (Driven by Myles Heffernan) from post 3. Buckaroo has the two-year-old trotting record to his credit but has yet to defeat Ticked in a race where both horses have stayed on stride.

The draws in the two-year-old pacing Atlantic Breeder’s Crowns were not kind to the presumptive favorites as both horses drew post 8. Royaltywestho has yet to finish worse than second in her rookie campaign but has to start on the far outside of her seven rivals in the race 7 two-year-old pacing filly final for a $20,000 purse. Walter Cheverie drives the daughter of Westwardho Hanover for co-owner and trainer Joseph Baxter and co-owner Gregory Francis of Windsor, N.S.

Sock It Away can claim both Island two-year-old pacing colt track records to his credit  but has to contend with post 8 in his $20,000 Atlantic Breeder’s Crown final. The son of Pang Shui will have to circle his seven contenders at some point in the mile whether it is off the gate or coming for home. Campbell will drive the colt for trainer Kevin Maclean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford.

The draw was kinder to the top choices in the three-year-old championship finals. Filly Forty Seven is selected as top choice in the race 11 $20,000 three-year-old pacing filly Atlantic Breeder’s Crown for trainer-driver Campbell but the division has been extremely competitive all season long. Fellow Campbell trainee Elektra Express leaves from post 5 in that race with Ryan Ellis handling the reins while Traces Of Purple has defeated both fillies on separate occasions and gets the services of Gilles Barrieau from post 3.

The $20,000 three-year-old pacing colts championship final hits the track in race 13 with Mighty Cowboy the morning line choice with rail control for trainer-driver Darren Crowe and owner David MacDonald of Halifax, N.S., in a race where an argument can be made for any of the eight entries to land in the winner’s circle.

In other action, the Atlantic Breeder’s Crown Open trot hits the track in 8 for a $2,500 purse, a $3,500 Open Pacing mares class lines up for a $3,500 pot in race 12 while a $5,000 Invitational pace closes out the card in race 14.

By Nicholas Oakes

 

 

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Sunday afternoon was a good day to have ticket on Brodys Leona as he decimated her foes in the final strides to score a huge upset in the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares final as the highlight of the all-stakes program at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

 

The $15,417 championship final, sponsored by Standardbred Canada, saw Ramblinglily driven aggressively off the gate from post 7 for driver Ken Murphy. Rambinglily laid down a first quarter of 27.3 then attempted to control her destiny with a 58.2 half and three-quarters in 1:28 while Brodys Leona laid fifth on the rail for driver Corey MacPherson. Ramblinglily gave way in the stretch drive as it was Brodys Leona’s day to shine when she got up at the wire to win in 1:57.3 at 31-1 odds. Race favorite Prettyndangerous (Driven by Adam Merner) was second with West River Ambyr (Clare MacDonald) completing the $429.85 triactor ticket. Brodys Leona is trained by Melissa Rennie for owners Kerry and Emily Taylor of Stratford and Lisa Richards of Cornwall.
While the main event was an upset victory, favorites prevailed in much of the rest of the afternoon of mega-stakes action.

 

Filly Forty Seven was the heavy favorite in her $11,600 Lady Slipper gold division and controlled the tempo every step of the mile as she won by eight lengths in 1:57.1 as one of four wins on the day for Summerside’s leading driver Marc Campbell. Dubbed the ‘King’ of Island racing, Campbell also trains the daughter of Proven Lover for owners Darryl MacLean of Winsloe, Katelyn Smallwood of Stratford, Cory Carver of Montague and Nova Scotia owner Tanya Tremblett of Sydney Mines.

Traces Of Purple was part of a more reserved victory for driver Gilles Barrieau in the other $11,600 division as he cleared past a 27.3 opening quarter then eased the tempo to win in a 1:59.1 mile. The three-year-old daughter of Brandon’s Cowboy is co-owned and trained by Robert Phillips of South Pinette along with co-owner Kevin Harvey of Hammonds Plains, N.S.
Ashes To Ashes was a popular winner in a $9,000 gold division of the Joe O’Brien Memorial stake for three-year-old pacingcolts as he won in 1:57 for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Jackie Matheson and owners Linda Somers of Cornwall, Lynn Livingstone of Kensington and Alan Conway of Summerside.

Island Energetic delivered as favorite in another of three $9,000 splits in 1:56.4 for trainer-driver Campbell and Nova Scotia owners Grayland Farm of Pugwash and Bernadette Burgess of Dartmouth.

Lucbobski scored a mild upset at 3-1odds in the final $9,000 O’Brien Gold division in 1:56.1 for trainer-driver Danny Romo and Nova Scotia owners Robert Skinner of Truro and Jeff Skinner of Hammonds Plains.
Pappy Go Go continued his trotting dominance of the three-year-old division as he scored win number nine of his undefeated campaign in a $7,800 division of the Lady Slipper. Time of the mile was 2:00.3 for trainer-driver Campbell and owner Grayland Farm. The other three-year-old trot lady slipper division was won by Bj Lorado in 2:01.1 for driver Brian MacPhee and owner-trainer Bert Honkoop of Montague.

In two-year-old Lady Slipper trot action, Buckaroo delivered as the favorite in 2:01.1 in his $7,300 split for trainer-driver Campbell and owners Larry and Kathy Chappell of Marshfield. Ticked prevailed in the other division with a 2:03.1 victory for the combination of trainer Gerald MacDougall and driver Myles Heffernan, who co-owns with Jackie Heffernan of Summerville.

By Nicholas Oakes

 

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Lady Slipper and Joe O’Brien Memorial gold action was not kind to the post time favorites Saturday night at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Sock It Away was the only post time favorite to win in gold divisions of the stakes for two-year-old pacers at the capital oval. Marc Campbell sent the son of Pang Shui off the front and scored one of his three wins of the night. Time of the mile was 1:56.4 in the $10,000 O’Brien gold division as Sock It Away got revenge on Oceanview Magnum after being defeated last week. Sock It Away is trained by Kevin MacLean for owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. Oceanview Magnum (Driven by Todd Trites) was second with Doublejacksandaces (Jason Hughes) third.

Half Cut scored a mild upset in the other O’Brien gold division with a 1:59.1 victory for driver Mark Bradley, trainer Tom Weatherbie and owners Kyle Gardiner and Mike Currie of Cardigan, Joseph Gardiner of Mount Stewart and Jerry MacKinnon of St. Peters Bay. Dustylanewesty (Clare MacDonald) was second with the triactor being completed by Dustylanesam (Gordie Hennessey).

A pair of O’Brien Grassroots divisions were held with $6,200 purses. The winner were Woodmere Ideal Art (Trites) in a 2:00.2 score and Dangle Ona Dime (Don MacNeill) in 1:59.2.

Favorites faltered in both $11,000 Lady Slipper Gold splits for two-year-old pacing fillies as Scarlet Desire scored a 15-1 victory in 1:59.2 as one of three wins for driver Marc Campbell, who also trains the daughter of Western Paradise for Gordon MacLean of Winsloe. Heavy favorite Royaltywestho (Walter Cheverie) was second with Saulsbrook Coral (Trites) finishing third.

The other $11,000 Lady Slipper Gold division was a front end score for Elm Grove Mistress and trainer-driver Earl Smith in 1:59.1 at 7-1 odds as she defeated post time favorite Elm Grove Misty (Dave Kelly) with third going to Woodmere Ceilidh (MacDonald). Elm Grove Mistress is owned by Islanders Peter Smith of Charlottetown, Larry Chappell of Marshfield and Gerald Morrissey of Vernon Bridge along with Arnold Hagen of Bible Hill, N.S.

The $7,100 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions were claimed by Tobins Terror (Gary Chappell) in 2:00.1 and Woodmere Saphire (Gilles Barrieau) in 2:01.1.

Adkins Hanover was on top at every call as he visited the winner’s circle in the $2,550 preferred pace for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que. Time of the mile was 1:54.4 with Carracci Hanover (Hughes) second and Forever Paradise (Campbell) third.

By Nicholas Oakes

 

 

SUMMERSIDE, PE – The action cranks up for the first race Sunday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway and doesn’t wind down until the curtain closes on race 14.

First race post time for the all-stakes Sunday afternoon card is 1 P.M. with the $15,417 Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Final sponsored by Standardbred Canada taking centre stage in the race 14 finale.

Good Luck Kathy is the morning choice in the race 14 championship final with Jason Hughes in the bike for conditioner Jennifer Trainor while riding streak of top three finishes from post 2. Prettndangerous has proved she can knock off any of her rivals in the eight horse field and gets post 5 to work with this week for driver Adam Merner and trainer Bo Ford, while Ramblinglily was locked in solid in her last start but has to overcome post 7 for trainer Allan Jones and retains the services of Ken Murphy this week.

The rest of the program features the Lady Slipper Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies and two and three-year-old trotters along with the Joe O’Brien Memorial stake for three-year-old pacing colts.

A trio of O’Brien Gold divisions line up in races 6, 11 and 13 for $9,000 each. Maritime Breeder’s champion Ashes To Ashes headlines the compact field of five in race 6 from post 3 for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Jackie Matheson.

Race 11 has Tobinator as the top choice from post 5 for trainer Trevor Hicken and driver Corey MacPherson fresh off a 1:56.4 victory in stakes action at the Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia.

Mick Dundee has flown under the radar most of the season but can not deny his status as top pick in O’Brien Gold action in race 13. The three-year-old son of Aahm Canadian Now was a fourth place finisher last week in the preferred pace at Red Shores Charlottetown pacing in an impressive 1:54.3 for trainer-driver Donnie MacNeill. The nine-time winner has post 5 to start from this week.

The $6,000 O’Brien Grassroots divisions line up in races 2 and 5.

In Lady Slipper Gold division action for the three-year-old pacing fillies, Traces Of Purple is the favourite in race 3 for an $11,600 purse with Barrieau in the bike for Robert Phillips. The other division in race 8 has Filly Forty Seven with a target on her back from post 2 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell.

A pair of Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies carries $7,500 purses in races 10 and 12.

The Lady Slipper two-year-old trot has Ticked favoured in the first $7,300 division for driver Myles Heffernan and trainer Gerald MacDougall while Red Shores Charlottetown track record holder Buckaroo and trainer-driver Campbell hold top spot in the other split in race 7 for trainer-driver Campbell.

The $7,800 Lady Slipper three-year-old trot divisions line up in races 4 and 9. Pappy Go Go will attempt to extend his undefeated season from post 4 in race 9 for trainer-driver Campbell as he currently has eight wins from as many starts in 2017.

By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – A stakes filled weekend of Island racing kicks off Saturday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 14-dash card lines up for race 1 at 6 P.M. with the card featuring the Joe O’Brien Memorial stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and the Lady Slipper stake for two-year-old pacing fillies. A pair of track record holders hook up in race 9 for a $10,000 purse in a O’Brien Gold division. Sock It Away holds the two-year-old pacing colt track records at Red Shores Charlottetown and Summerside and gets post 4 to work with for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Kevin MacLean, while Oceanview Magnum leaves from post 6 fresh off a Northside Downs track record last week where he defeated Sock It Away. Todd Trites drives Oceanview Magnum for trainer Earl Watts. The race also sees the return of Howmac Dancer to the East Coast after racing the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit in Ontario, getting post 7 this week for driver Corey MacPherson.

The other $10,000 O’Brien Gold division lines up in race 12 with Inverness Raceway track record holder Half Cut the morning line choice from post 3 for the team of driver Mark Bradley and trainer Tom Weatherbie. Big Talking Man returns to East coast racing in that division from post 5 for driver Ken Murphy and trainer Robert Phillips after taking a lifetime best of 1:52 in his latest outing at Mohawk Raceway in Ontario.

A pair of O’Brien grassroots divisions line up in races 2 and 4 for $6,200 purses.

Lady Slipper Gold action for the two-year-old pacing fillies has Royaltywestho as the morning line choice in race 8 for an $11,000 pot. The daughter of Westwardho Hanover has five wins from six outings for driver Walter Cheverie and trainer Joseph Baxter of Nova Scotia. Saulsbrook Coral (Trites) and Silverhill Misty (Jason Hughes) are the other top entries in the field of six.

Elm Grove Misty is fresh off the biggest race of her career with rail control in this week’s $11,000 Lady Slipper division in race 11. Dave (Crocker) Kelly trains and drives the daughter of Stonebridge Terror and was 1:59 winner last time out in a $17,8000 division of the Atlantic Sires Stakes at Northside Downs in Nova Scotia.

Woodmere Chella (Gilles Barrieau) and Chocolate Terror (Paul Langille) are among the major threats in this week’s seven horse field.

The $7,100 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions hit the track in races 1 and 5.

The preferred pace carries a $2,550 purse in race 13 with a top notch field including D Gs Camme (Barrieau), Carracci Hanover (Hughes) and Adkins Hanover (MacPherson).

By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores

Charlottetown, PE – The Atlantic Breeders Crown Host Committee is pleased to announce the four Atlantic Canadian harness racing families who will be recognized for their longstanding contributions to the industry during the upcoming Atlantic Breeders Crown weekend at Red Shores Charlottetown on October 7-8th.

From New Brunswick, the family of Steve Mahar has been involved with standardbreds for over 50 years. Steve is the winningest driver from New Brunswick with over 5000 victories in the sulky.

From Newfoundland and Labrador, the Sheppard family will be recognized for their long involvement with standardbreds.

The Polley family of Amherst, Nova Scotia, who have experienced success locally and across North America, will be lauded.

The MacDonald family from Charlottetown, PEI lived a block from the Charlottetown Driving Park and from the late 1960s, brothers Mike and Paul would provide many memorable moments on the nearby racetrack and beyond.

Presentations to each of the four families will take place at the Atlantic Breeders Crown banquet at the Top of the Park at Red Shores Charlottetown on Saturday, October 7th.  Memorabilia from each the four families will be on display in the “Memory Lane” area in the Trade Centre, adjacent to the Red Shores Charlottetown complex during the weekend.

Purchase tickets at the Top of the Park restaurant. For more information you can call 902.620.4264. For the weekend of events, sponsors and more go to our promotions page.

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Elm Grove Kaboom will try to deliver on his morning promise in the Thursday evening feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park with Prince Edward Island’s leading driver in the race bike.

First race post time is 6:30 P.M. for the 12-dash Thursday program with the $1,900 featured event lining up in race 11. Elm Grove Kaboom leaves from post 5 in the mid-week top class for driver Marc Campbell, trainer Earl Smith and owners Larry and Kathy Chappell of Marshfield. The son of Articulator finished out of the money in his last start against preferred company, where D Gs Camme was the winner, but still paced a snappy mile in 1:54.4 with Campbell at the lines. Red Magician has post 7 for driver Adam Merner fresh off a second place finish where he paced in 1:55.3 while Mozartsplace has rail control for driver Gilles Barrieau after finishing second in his latest outing in 1:56.1.

Other Thursday feature entrants include Capitalism (Jason Hughes), Darth Bader (Norris Rogers), Tempo Seelster (Vincent Poulton) and The Big Bite (Kenny Arsenault).

The ‘King’ of Island racing, Campbell continues his commanding lead in the Red Shores Charlottetown driving standings with 107 wins compared to 66 wins for second place Hughes. Campbell will look to add to those totals in the Open trot for a $1,850 purse with Freddie but will have to overcome being handicapped to post 8. The Majestic Son five-year-old is riding a three-race win streak but has not raced since September 14 for owners Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston. In Freddie’s absence, Kennel Buddy captured last week’s edition for owner-trainer-driver David Dowling in 1:58.1 and gets post 6 on Thursday.

The Thursday program will also see the return of Brian Blanchard to the race bike in race 8 behind post 6 starter Dees Boy for trainer Kenny Arsenault at 7-2 morning line odds. Blanchard, a native of Maine, is attending the Atlantic Veterinary College but was working for the Jimmy Takter racing stable in New Jersey during his summer vacation.

Doc Semalu is a newcomer to the East Coast and will make his debut as the race 7 favorite for driver Hughes, conditioner Jennifer Trainor and new owner Danny Birt of Stratford. The three-year-old son of Mach Three has two wins and $21,597 to his credit so far in his career including a 1:54 lifetime best over Mohawk Raceway in Ontario.

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Culpepper did not secure the lead until the second half of the mile but he still demolished his Thursday evening feature rivals at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

With Jason Hughes in the bike, Culpepper was on the move through the first half of the mile in the $1,700 featured event by McCourt along with Braedon McKenna of Kensington. Tempo Seelster (Vincent Poulton) was second in the featured event while another member of the McCourt stable, Capitalism (Adam advancing first up through fractions of 28.2 and 57.2 laid down by Four Corners (Driven by Gilles Barrieau). When the Kristina McCourt trained Culpepper found front he never looked back with three-quarters in 1:26.3 before a two-and-three-quarter length victory in 1:56.2. The seven-year-old son of Camluck is owned Merner), was third

Kennel Buddy used a first over attack to defeat his Open trot rivals as the heavy favorite for owner-trainer-driver David Dowling in 1:59.1. Despite the chalk favorite landing in the winner’s circle, the $1,850 class saw some upsets in the next two spots as Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault) was second at 14-1 odds while Suicide Shift (Steven Shepherd) completed the triactor at 13-1 leading to a $321.30 triactor payout for a $2 ticket.

 

Corey MacPherson and Walter Cheverie both had driving doubles on the 10-dash program. MacPherson’s wins came with Hop Up in 2:02.3 for Keith Campbell of Tyne Valley and with Hurricane Hill in 1:57.1 for trainer Ron Gass of Cornwall. Cheverie’s victories were with Rojans White Jet in a 1:59.1 mile from the stable of Clair Sweet of O’Leary and with with Scarlet Safari in 1:58.3 for Brent Campbell of Charlottetown.

By Nicholas Oakes