The 2011 racing calendar will be extended two weeks in Summerside and Charlottetown. The two additional dates at both tracks are Sunday afternoons, all with a post time of 1 p.m.
Tomorrow afternoon’s card in Summerside will be a 12-race presentation and, as always, the feature of the day goes in Race 11.
Trainer/owner Willis Silliker will look to double up in the top class with Ultimate Success.
Last week, he wired the field in 1:57.4 for Gary Chappell. Sunday, Ultimate Success’ regular pilot, Lenny Myers, returns to the sulky and has rail control.
Lady Slipper and O’Brien
The Charlottetown Driving Park will host the Lady Slipper Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies, and the Joe O’Brien Stakes for two-year-old colt pacers tonight. Post time is 6 p.m.
The Lady Slipper Gold Division supports a huge purse of $11,400. There’s good news for the first division as all five starters will receive hefty purse cheques. The second division has six starters.
The same holds true in the O’Brien Gold as a $10,700 purse is offered to five starters, and six will line up in the second division.
These two stakes are the greatest addition to Island harness racing since the dismantling of the hub rail, and the invention of the quick hitch. The Island stakes’ program is in fine shape thanks to the Island Breeders’ program, Meridian Farms’ contribution and our portion of the Sire Stakes’ events.
If you’re fortunate enough to have one of the best colts or fillies, you can earn $40,000 to $50,000, and never cross Confederation Bridge.
Turner Stakes
Sunday afternoon, Truro Raceway will host the George and Donnie Turner Memorial Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies. It’s the only stake on the East Coast where both genders have to race against each other.
I’m not a big fan of the fillies racing the colts, and I know I’m not alone on this. Once again, this week, Summerside provides the Truro program for you to watch and wager on.
The Breeders Crown
The single biggest night in harness racing history takes place at Woodbine in Toronto tonight. All 12 Breeders Crown finals make up the program, a feat that has never happened before in this sport. The super card is offered at Red Shores at Summerside and Charlottetown.
Ad-Vance picks
A look at Sunday’s picks:
Best bets – Mickey Blu in Race 2, and Rymar Chief in Race 9.
Long shot possibilities –Eagle On It in Race 1, and Tobins Star in Race 10.
Vance Cameron is the track announcer in Summerside and Charlottetown. Comments and suggestions can be sent to jpsports@journalpioneer.com.
