CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – IC True Grit was within inches of making the winner’s circle in his latest pair of starts but will look to put it all together tonight in the feature at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The program will be the last mid-week card at the capital oval as action shifts to strictly weekend racing starting next week. Tonight’s 10-dash card has a 6:30 p.m. post time with the top class lining up in Race 9 for a $2,100 purse.
IC True Grit is installed as the morning line favourite from Post 2 in the featured pace with Gilles Barrieau in the driver’s seat for trainer Jackie Matheson and owners Joey Gallant and Ingham Jenkins of Charlottetown. The son of No Pan Intended was second in his last two starts and was beaten by less than a head in each start. One of the pacers that beat him will square off with him again this week as Jeb has Post 5 for trainer-driver Jason Hughes riding a quartet of top-two finishes into the event.
Nogreatmischief has rail control for trainer-driver Walter Cheverie as the former Governor’s Plate finalist looks for his first trip to the Charlottetown winner’s circle since May.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac goes with IC True Grit to get the job done and hit the wire first.
“IC True Grit has had a couple of bang-up second-place finishes at this level, his most recent out of the six-hole,” MacIsaac said. “With an improved post this time around he could be the one to knock off.”
Also in the field are: Likely To Win (Adam Merner), Rockin Indy (David Dowling) and Stars Above (Mike McGuigan).
Race 8 of the program has Killean Finale making her first East Coast start from Post 6. Ken Murphy drives the winner of $175,000 for trainer Clifford Murphy and owners Dr. Mary McNiven and Pacemaker Stable of Nine Mile Creek. The five-year-old daughter of Sportswriter last raced at Harrington Raceway in Delaware, U.S., in a conditioned class.
Majian Tango headlines the Race 7 open trot for a $1,950 purse for trainer-driver Jim Ripley and owner Marylea Ripley of Amherst, N.S. The son of Tad The Stud has had three wins so far in his four-year-old campaign including a win in last start on Oct. 11, and was subsequently scratched last week due to travel restriction on the Confederation Bridge. Other top entries include Dusty Lane Jacob (Merner) and Frill Seeker (Kenny Arsenault).
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
