SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - Painted Desert has dominated the top event at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway in recent weeks, but has some new competition to knock off if he wants the trend to continue.
There’s been another change in the schedule. Due to a severe weather system forecasting to hit P.E.I., the Monday night harness racing program in Summerside has been moved to Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
First race post time is 6:30 p.m. for the 12-dash program Wednesday program after the Sunday afternoon card was moved by officials with Red Shores due to a lighting issue at Red Shores Charlottetown. Corey MacPherson will steer Painted Desert as the morning line choice from Post 2 in the Race 12 finale top class for a $2,100 purse while riding a two-race win streak in this class. Trevor Hicken trains the son of Western Ideal for owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que.
Heart And Soul is now officially an Islander again as he has left the stable of Clare MacDonald of Nova Scotia and is now trained by breeder George Riley who also owns the horse, as Riley Farms Ltd. of Summerside. Walter Cheverie will drive the champion son of Western Paradise from Post 4. Woggy Rocks returns to action from Post 5 in the class with the son of Rocknroll Hanover not making a pari-mutuel start since April. Neal Moase trains the horse for Mikaela Wheaton of Warren Grove with Adam Merner getting the catch driving call this week.
Race analyst Bo Ford will place his faith in Painted Desert to overcome his new competitors.
"Painted Desert has been solid since entering the Hicken stable," Ford said. "With back to back victories at this level and a dandy post to work with today, it should be time for him to go streaking."
Other top class entries include Machinthesand (Ken Murphy), Rash B Havior (Mike Peters), Eagle Jolt (Marc Campbell) and Allstar Seelster (Norris Rogers).
Race 5 on the Prince County program will see something that has not occurred in years as the top trotter on Canada's Eastern Seaboard will be forced to race against the pacers after dominating his same gaited rivals for weeks. Freddie has demolished the Open trot week-after-week with ease recently with his only blemish a second place finish to Kennel Buddy two starts back before that rival relocated to Ontario to leave Freddie virtually unchallenged. Freddie will face a group of pacers who are non-winners of $651 in their last five starts while he gets Post 4 for trainer-driver Campbell and owner Three Wisemen Stable of Kingston.
Coasttocoastshark is the morning line favourite in the $1,200 Race 3 with Murphy driving for trainer Jeff Wallace.
Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores
