By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – One of the Island’s top performances of 2024 came from Save America, and the talented pacer will look for redemption Saturday evening in a loaded Preferred Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The city track has a 14-dash card scheduled for a 6 P.M. start, with the $5,500 Preferred Pace headlining in Race 13.
Save America makes his first East Coast appearance since last August’s Gold Cup and Saucer final, where he finished third in the $100,000 event with a hard-fought performance from post 8. The five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous will leave from post 5 with Ken Murphy handling the catch driving duties as the pacer returns to the Jamie Smith stable for owner Thestable.ca. He ships to P.E.I. in top form, winning in 1:49.3 over Scioto Downs in Ohio on June 4 as he prepares for the $50,000 Governor’s Plate set for July 19 at Red Shores Summerside.
The road to the winner’s circle will not be easy, with multiple Preferred-class rivals in play in the eight-horse field. Wind Blown (To be driven by Paul Langille) was a winner in 1:51 over Woodbine Mohawk Park already this season and has post 4 from the Phil Sizer barn. TH Boomtown (Kenny Arsenault) has rail control as part of a Ron Matheson stable duo along with post 6 starter Blood Money (Gilles Barrieau).
Island Beach Boy will also attract plenty of support, leaving from post 2 for trainer Adam Merner. Merner drove the pacer to a front-end victory in his Cecil Ladner Memorial Invitational division last week, but the driver is competing in stakes action in New Brunswick Saturday so Jason Hughes will take the reins this time out.
Brookdale Johnny (David Dowling) has post 3 also from the Sizer barn while the outside is populated by Saulsbrook Ian (Corey MacPherson) with post 7 for trainer Smith and Roll Em (Marc Campbell) from post 8 from the Landon Campbell barn in what should be a hotly contested dash.
The Post Time Picks take Save America in his return.
“Save America won his Gold Cup and Saucer trial and finished third in the final from the dreaded eight hole the last time he graced our Red Shores ten months ago. He scorched Scioto Downs in 1:49.3 in his latest, and Kenny Murphy picks up his most talented catch drive, so I’m betting they lead gate-to-wire.”
Race 5 is The Freemason’s Pace, in a wide-open $2,500 tilt.
Hippyjohn (Arsenault) is the top selection from post 6 for owner Roderick Smith of Inverness, N.S., as he takes on post 7 starter St Charlesfireball (Marc Campbell) and Georges Credit (Mark Bradley) in a full-field of eight.
Play along with the action live and online through HPIBET.COM. For Race Day broadcast, live video and more, visit Redshores.ca.
