SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — After shocking the tote board and betting public in last week’s top event, Varadero Hanover has his work cut out for him to repeat that magic on a special Monday program at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The 11-dash card has a 1 p.m. post time with Varadero Hanover leaving from Post 5 in the Race 10 top event for a $2,500 purse. Ken Murphy supplied the upset last week and will drive again for trainer Jeff Wallace and owner Bobby Gordon of Elmsdale.
Riding a perfect two-hole trip, Varadero Hanover was at 13-1 odds when he hit the wire first in last week’s top class.
Also in the feature is Post 1 starter Pictonian Storm with Myles Heffernan Sr., in the bike for trainer Wade Sorrie with a win and a second in his last two starts. Nogreatmischief rallied late for a third-place finish in last week’s top event and has Post 4 this week for trainer-driver Walter Cheverie while Mando Fun cut out all the action in that race to finish second. Mando Fun leaves from Post 3 on Monday with Gilles Barrieau back in the driver’s seat.
Rounding out the field is Post 2 starter Mantario for the combo of driver Norris Rogers and trainer Alex Sobey.
The backstretch beat in Monday’s program pegs Nogreatmischief for the top spot on the podium.
“What a performance from Nogreatmischief weaving through traffic to hit the ticket in his latest,” reads the beat. “If he doesn’t have so much to try and do late in the mile this week, he could mop up the whole field. Top call.”
The $2,100 back-up pace lines up in Race 8 with Best To Hurst the morning-line favourite with rail control for driver Barrieau, trainer Earl Watts and owners Neal Moase of Warren Grove, Windemere Farms of Hampshire and Roger Burns of North Rustico. The class-dropping son of Cambest has recorded five wins so far this season, including a 1:54.3 victory over Red Shores Charlottetown.
Other top entrants are Coasttocoastshark (driven by Murphy) and Heart And Soul (Cheverie).
Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
