CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The final regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon program of the season will see one of the top three-year-olds in the history of Atlantic Canadian harness racing try to extend his streak to 18 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP).
The 12-race program starts at 12:30 p.m. with the preferred pacers taking to the track in Race 11 for a $2,650 purse.
Sock It Away will leave from Post 2 in the compact field with CDP-leading driver Marc Campbell in the bike for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. The sophomore son of Pang Shui has yet to taste defeat in 17 starts in 2018 and delivered a crushing performance last Sunday in his first start against aged company. The colt was a 1:57.1 winner over blustery conditions with a winning margin of seven lengths.
Czar Seelster made a break late in the mile on Sunday but is listed as second choice in the field while being reunited with driver Kenny Arsenault.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac will place Sock It Away on top in his preferred pace selections.
“After a season on the stakes circuit facing three-year-olds Sock It Away tackled the big boys last week and barely broke a sweat beating them,” MacIsaac said. “It is pretty hard to go against him off a performance like that.”
Also in the preferred pace is Mick Dundee (Don MacNeill), Rockin Indy (David Dowling) and Winter Blast (Jason Hughes).
The Eddie Power Memorial pace lines up in Race 7 of the program for a $1,600 purse. Malabrigo is the morning-line favourite from Post 6 for trainer-driver Campbell and owners Darryl and Gordon MacLean and Natasha Campbell of Winsloe, along with Meghan MacDonald of Charlottetown. Other top contenders include Tell Me Why (Adam Merner) and Sendmeasign (Arsenault).
After Sunday’s card, live racing will switch to a Saturday afternoon schedule for the remainder of the race season ending in late January, with the exception of special programs on Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
