By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Blood Money will vye for his third straight in the Saturday afternoon Preferred Pace as the 2026 season opens up at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 11-dash season opener has a 12:30 P.M., opening post time. The program is part of the grand opening celebrations from 11am-2am which includes a special ribbon cutting ceremony after race 3 in the main lobby. The afternoon race card will feature second chance draws for race customers including a chance to win a new 55 inch big screen TV from the PEI Standardbred Horse Owners Association.
The $6,250 Preferred Pace in race 10 will see Blood Money as the morning line favourite from post 2 for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Ron Matheson and owner Dr. Mitchell Downey of Saint John, N.B. Barrieau start off the season in a tie for top driver with Jason Hughes, each at nine wins so far in 2026.
Jennifer Doyle leads the training race at this early point in the season with seven wins, ahead of Matheson in second at six wins and Ashley Gamester holding down third at five victories. In the Saturday afternoon Preferred Pace, Doyle will send out post 5 starter Captainofrocknroll (To be driven by David Dowling) and rail sitter Shake N Blake (Ken Murphy).
Freemans Legacy (Jaycob Sweet) is the post 2 entrant while James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation winner Nuttin But Finesse gets post 4 with veteran reinsman Mike Downey in the seat.
The season opener in race 1 has Howmac Exclusive and 2025 Gold Cup and Saucer winning driver Corey MacPherson in the seat for 1973 Gold Cup and Saucer winning driver Les Waite, who conditions the son of Source Of Pride for co-owners Jim Gorman and Leith Waite. The 11-time winning pacer has drawn post 7 in the field as he takes on Moon Bound (Dowling), Freight Air (Brodie MacPhee), Rymar Jimbo (Steven Murphy), Proudofyatoday (Dave Kelly Sr.), Brookdale Jim (Paul Langille) and Redland Sampson (Murphy).
Mantario (Dowling) is the top selection in the Red Shores Opening Day Pace in race 5 for trainer Doyle, who co-owns with Max Webster Stable and Melissa MacRae. A former Doyle trainee, the son of Sportswriter had been racing at Monticello Raceway in New York over the Winter months.
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