CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The 2019 Winter racing season came to a close Saturday afternoon as Rollwithitharry won the final dash until racing resumes in May at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Drew Neill completed his rookie campaign in fine style teaming up with conditioner Jackie Matheson to win three dashes on the program including the final event with Rollwithitharry. Leaving from post 3 in the $1,800 dash, Rollwithitharry found the front and extended his lead to win in 1:59 over Pictonian Storm (Driven By Corey MacPherson) and Jds Double Dose (Dale Spence). The 11-year-old Rocknroll Hanover stallion is owned by Woodmere Farms of Marshfield, P.E.I.

Neill’s other victories came with Collective Wisdom in 2:00.2 and Howmacs Dragonator in 2:00.3.

Driver David Dowling scored four trips to the winner’s circle including the $2,400 featured event with Adkins Hanover, who circled the field to win in 1:57.1. Second went to Intended Royalty (Redmond Doucet) while Red Magician (Adam Merner) was third. Adkins Hanover is trained by Trevor Hicken for owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Quebec.

Windemere Nancy overcame an early break to give Dowling’s first win of the day in 2:01.1 for trainer Earl Watts of Hampshire, followed by a 2:03.2 score with Vintage Winner for trainer Wade Myers. Windemereimalright gave Dowling and Watts another win on the day with a 2:02.1 mile.

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Intended Royalty will be looking to even the score with one of Cape Breton’s top drivers in the feature event Saturday afternoon at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 10-dash program kicks off at 12:30 P.M. with Intended Royalty drawing post 5 in the race 9 feature with Redmond Doucet in the bike for co-owner and trainer Randy Copley and co-owner Ed Copley of Inverness, N.S. Doucet is the regular pilot of Intended Royalty when he races in Nova Scotia and will make the trip to drive the horse during the final card of the winter racing season at the capital oval. The horse he will be looking to even-up with is post 6 starter Adkins Hanover, who will retain the services of David Dowling for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Quebec. Dustlanemissmolly drops out of the top mare’s class and will be forced to face the boys from post 2 for driver Myles Heffernan Sr.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac will give the edge to Intended Royalty to find the wire first.

“The first over trip proved to be his downfall last week and the eventual winner simply got away on him,” MacIsaac said of Intended Royalty. “There’s a possibility of some early mayhem up front today which might make it tougher on the front runners. If this guy gets rolling and can pick up some live cover, beware.”

Also in the field are Tempo Seelster (Driven by Ken Murphy), Red Magician (Adam Merner) and Winter Blast (Kyle Gillis).

Rollwithitharry will search for his second straight win the afternoon back-up class that will close out the season in race 10. Drew Neill has acquitted himself well in the sulky in his first season and will again pick up the mount for trainer Jackie Matheson and owner Woodmere Farms of Marshfield, P.E.I. Eagle Jolt will leave from post 8 as a top entry for trainer-driver Marc Campbell while Pictonian Storm has post 5 with Corey MacPherson at the lines.

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The top driver in Warren Grove strutted his stuff Saturday afternoon as he captured the top class as well as the top distaff at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Adkins Hanover returned to the East Coast and cruised to victory in the $2,400 featured event on a frosty day at the capital oval. Time of the mile was 1:59.1 with Dowling in the bike for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que. The 10-year-old Western Ideal pacer was on a front end mission as he stole every fraction and handily won by four-and-half lengths over Intended Royalty (Driven by Mike McGuigan) while Tempo Seelster (Ken Murphy) was third.

Dowling and trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., teamed up to win the $1,800 mare’s pace with Dustlanemissmolly in 1:59.1. Heffernan’s father, Myles Heffernan Sr., was scheduled to drive but was called to work in the United States working on power lines, leaving Dowling to pick up the drive during last minute program changes. The daughter of Brandons Cowboy also was on top for every split as she was part of a rarity with her sister, Dustylane Zendaya, finished second in the compact field of five. Jackie Heffernan of Summerville, P.E.I., holds the ownership papers of Dustlanemissmolly.

Heffernan had two training wins on the program with Pictonian Sareta winning earlier on the card as part of a four win day for leading driver Marc Campbell. Campbell scored victories with Navy Pilot Hanover from his own barn, Charlottes Western for trainer Jeff Lilley of Milton and Noudidnt Blue Chip for trainer Neal Moase of Warren Grove.

By Nicholas Oakes

 

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Cape Breton’s finest pacer came out on top in last week’s feature event but has a new foe for his Saturday afternoon contest at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Intended Royalty was a winner in the featured event last Saturday at Red Shores Charlottetown and will be the morning line favourite this week. The 13-dash Saturday afternoon presentation kicks off at 12:30 P.M. with the $2,400 preferred pace hitting the track in race 12. Intended Royalty is the choice of classifier Gerard Smith from post 5 with Mike McGuigan back in the race bike for co-owner and trainer Randy Copley of Inverness, N.S., and co-owner Ed Copley. The eight-year-old son of No Pan Intended has been a winner in eight of 11 races since the beginning of 2018 but did not make a start since July until his win last Saturday in Charlottetown.

Adkins Hanover returns to red soil for the Saturday contest and draws post 4 for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que. David Dowling will drive the 10-year-old Western Ideal pacer who had been performing well on the Ontario circuit in recent months including three wins from his last four starts.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac gives the edge to Intended Royalty in the compact field of five.

“Intended Royalty was out for most of the mile last week including three wide at the half and still won his local debut,” MacIsaac said. “After that performance, other than the likely short price there’s not much to dislike.”

Also in the field is Tempo Seelster (Driven by Ken Murphy), Red Magician (Adam Merner) and Burn Out Hanover (Kenny Arsenault).

The top mares pace of the afternoon hits the track in race 9 for a $1,800 purse with Dusty Lane Zendaya guarding the rail for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Stephen Gass and owners Alexis Gass and the Estate of Shelley Gass of Cornwall, P.E.I. Dusty Lane Zendaya’s sister, Dustlanemissmolly, was the winner last week for trainer-driver Myles Heffernan and gets post 4 to work from on Saturday.

By Nicholas Oakes

By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – One of the top pacers in Cape Breton will attempt to go over the $100,000 mark in earnings Saturday afternoon but will have an uphill battle in the featured event at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval will play host to 13-dashes on the afternoon with a 12:30 P.M. first race post time. Intended Royalty was hot during an abbreviated campaign in Inverness, N.S., that saw him win seven out of 10 starts in 2018. Owners Randy and Edward Copley of Inverness, will have their charge driven by Mike McGuigan in the $2,200 top event in race 12 from post seven in the field of as many fresh off a 2:00 qualifier with a 28.4 closing quarter last week.

Red Magician defeated the preferred group in his latest start and will leave from post 6 with Corey MacPherson back in the bike for trainer Melissa Rennie and owners Dale and Ronnie Rennie of Elmsdale, P.E.I. Eagle Jolt has rail control in the competitive group for trainer-driver Marc Campbell, while the other Rennie trainee, Euchred, has post 3 for driver Adam Merner.

Also in the field is Rollwithitharry (Driven by Drew Neill), Burn Out Hanover (Kenny Arsenault) and Winter Blast (Jason Hughes).

Top Desire joins the East Coast racing wars in race 4 of the program for new owner-trainer Ed Harvey of Tyne Valley, P.E.I. The six-year-old son of Real Desire was racing the Ontario circuit most recently for trainer Richard Moreau. Norris Rogers will hand the driving duties Saturday from post 3 at 8-1 morning line odds.

Malabrigo has been established as the morning line favorite for Campbell in the Shawn Driscoll pace on race 6.

Zingers Laugh returns to Island racing on the program drawing the rail in race 10 of the program. The now nine-year-old son of Bettors Delight is owned by Neal Moase of Warren Grove, P.E.I., and placed in the hands of trainer-driver Drew Neill. With over $125,000 in lifetime earnings and 17 career wins, Zingers Laugh was formerly campaigned by Walter Cheverie on P.E.I. in the 2014-2015 seasons and by Mike McGuigan and Moase in 2017, with stints to Ontario and Quebec in between.

By Nicholas Oakes

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The Melissa Rennie stable was red hot Saturday afternoon capturing the top two spots in the featured event at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The $2,400 featured event saw Red Magician go off as the longest shot on the board at 13-1 odds but hit the wire first overcoming his heavily favoured stablemate, Euchred (Driven by Adam Merner). Corey MacPherson sent Red Magician to the lead off the gate tripping the quarter-mile marker in 29 seconds before fellow Rennie trainee Euchred came calling and was released to the lead. The half was hit in 58.2 before three-quarters in 1:28.2 while Red Magician sat patiently in the two-hole. MacPherson made his move in the stretch drive getting up to win by three-quarters-of-a-length over Euchred while Eagle Jolt (Marc Campbell) was third to complete the healthy $740.60 triactor ticket. Dale and Ronnie Rennie of Elmsdale, P.E.I., hold the ownership papers of Red Magician.

The victory was one of two on the program for Rennie, who also won the Denny King Pace with Miss Sangria in 2:02.1 with Merner in the bike for owner Alex MacPhee of Clyde River, P.E.I.

Dusty Lane Zendaya posted a mild upset in the $2,350 Fillies and Mares Open pace also with MacPherosn supplying the longshot drive. The Stephen Gass trainee was a winner in 1:58.1 for owners Alexis Gass and The Estate Of Shelley Gass of Cornwall, P.E.I. Collective Wisdom (Drew Neill) was second while Malabrigo (Campbell) grabbed third place.

By Nicholas Oakes

Photo by Red Shores Marketing

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Under a front end steer from the ‘King’ of Island harness racing, Sock It Away snatched the New Year’s Eve feature and stamped himself as the winningest horse under the age of six in North American Harness Racing at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

As part of a five win evening for driver Marc Campbell, Sock It Away controlled the front end in the $2,500 preferred pace and powered away to a four-and-three-quarter length victory stopping the clock in 1:57.3. It was win number 20 of the season for Sock It Away, who only tasted defeat once all season for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. That win puts him at the top for wins amongst three-year-old regardless of gender or gait in North America and ties him for second place for wins by any Standardbred on the Continent. Finishing second in the preferred pace was Winter Blast (Driven by Jason Hughes) while Red Magician (Corey MacPherson) was third.

Campbell also hit the winner’s circle with Navy Pilot Hanover, Jetster and Modern Best all from his own stable and closed the year out in the New Year’s Eve finale with Prince Adam for trainer Matt Hinkley of Margaree, N.S.

Driver David Dowling celebrated win number 100 of the season while winning four races on the 2018 finale. Dowling hit the winner’s circle in an upset performace with Dustlanemissmolly in 2:00.3 in the $2,350 Open Mares class for trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., and owner Jackie Heffernan of Summerville. Drivingthedragon N (Hughes) hung on for second with Dusty Lane Zendaya (MacPherson) completing the healthy $599.30 triactor ticket. Dowling also hit the wire first with Silverhill Buddy in 2:00.4 for trainer Stacey Lund of Stratford, Rockin Indy in 2:00.3 for Troy Murray of Clyde River and Mach An Angel in 2:03.4 for Rocky Schurman of Summerside.

By Nicholas Oakes

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Sock It Away has been brushing aside most of his aged competition but gets a fresh foe in the preferred pace Monday night during a special New Year’s Eve harness racing presentation at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 13-race program starts with a special 6:30 P.M. post time as Red Shores will countdown to the 2019. Sock It Away is favoured in the race 12 feature with Marc Campbell back in the bike from post 5 in the $2,500 preferred pace for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I. He will have some high powered opposition as he looks to close out his three-year-old season as Euchred ships back to the East Coast from Ontario racing and draws post 4 for owner Kayla Habicht Walker of Inverness, N.S., driver Adam Merner and new trainer Melissa Rennie.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac sees Sock It Away as the likely horse to hit the wire first and record win number 20 of the season.

“Sock It Away has been making some high calibre opposition look pretty ordinary since the stake season came to a conclusion winning three of four and just missing in the other one,” MacIsaac said. “It looks like the road to the winner’s circle goes through him.”

Also in the featured field is Winter Blast (Driven by Jason Hughes), Red Magician (Corey MacPherson) and Burn Out Hanover (Kenny Arsenault).

Collective Wisdom will look to deliver as the morning line favourite in the race 11 Open Mares pace for a $2,350 purse. Rookie driver Drew Neill will again handle the five-year-old daughter of American Ideal for trainer Jackie Matheson and owner Woodmere Farms of Marshfield, P.E.I. She will face six rivals including Ramblinglily (Merner) who ships in from the mainland after recently racing the top class at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia.

Mr Irresistible will be the favourite to close out the calendar year in the race 13 New Year’s Eve pace with Hughes at the controls for conditioner Jennifer Doyle.

Island native Ryan Desroche, who is building a catch driving career in Ontario, is also home for the holidays and will pick up three drives on the New Year’s Eve program.

By Nicholas Oakes

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – He received the lone blemish of his three-year-old campaign in his latest outing but Sock It Away will look to make amends on the special Boxing Day program at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 15-dash holiday card gets underway at 12:30 P.M. with the $2,400 featured event lining up in race 14. Sock It Away was perfect in his first 18 starts this season but tasted defeat on Dec. 1 as Czar Seelster narrowly defeated him in the stretch drive. With Czar Seelster absent, Sock It Away will be heavily favoured to defeat his six Boxing Day foes for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I. Eagle Jolt knocked off the top class on Dec. 15 and gets post 2 this week with Marc Campbell having to drive his own trainee and missing the mount on Sock It Away. Winter Blast has also been a force in this class and will leave from post 6 Wednesday for driver Jason Hughes and conditioner Jennifer Doyle.

Freddie returns to Canadian racing in race 6 of the program handed the outside post 5 in the $1,800 affair listed as a Handicap Trot. The son of Majestic Son was racing in New England for owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston, P.E.I., but is now back in the stable of trainer-driver Campbell as the post time favourite. Other top entries include Frill Seeker (Brian Blanchard) and Suicide Shift (Harold Shepherd).

Rookies drivers have played a large role in Island racing recently. Austin Sorrie eclipsed Corey MacPherson’s rookie win total of 31 victories in the 2009 season, as the Montague driver recorded win number 32 of his career during the last live program. Fellow rookie pilot Drew Neill has eight drives on the Boxing Day card including Collective Wisdom in the race 9 Mares Open for a $2,350 purse.

By Nicholas Oakes