CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — In what could serve as a precursor for next week’s The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer trials, the best pacers on the eastern seaboard will battle in the preferred pace Saturday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 13-dash card has a 6 p.m. opening post time, with the $3,100 preferred pace lining up in Race 12.
Avatar J was the boss in his latest start for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Danny MacDonald and owners Dean Larkin of Edwards, Ont., and Jody Sanderson of Cornwall. The American Ideal pacer took a pocket ride to a 1:52.4 victory last week and will leave from Post 5.
Governor’s Plate runner-up Time To Dance has Post 2 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell after having not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Lindsay Construction Cup on July 18 in Truro, N.S.
The Corey MacPherson-driven Screen Test is the second choice from Post 3 while Rose Run Quest will leave from Post 4 with Brodie MacPhee picking up the catch-drive from the Campbell stable. Rose Run Quest was out of action last week but will look to add to his seven top-three finishes in the field of six.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac is taking a hunch that Rose Run Quest could be the one to knock off.
“Rose Run Quest has an uncharacteristically low winning percentage, but at the same time, a perfect top-three record,” MacIsaac said. “Since the week off could be just what the doctor ordered, he might be sitting on a big one.”
Also in the field are Soccer Hanover (to be driven by Adam Merner) and Lisburn (Kenny Arsenault).
Race 8 has the Preferred 2 pace carrying a $2,800 purse as the evening back-up class. Freddy Bear drops out of the preferred ranks and gets his trainer, Campbell, in the bike for the first time from the outside post in the field of six.
Other top entries are Ashes To Ashes (Barrieau) and Jeb (Jason Hughes).
For race programs, live video and more check out Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.
Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
