SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – The action winds down on racing in western Prince Edward Island on Sunday afternoon with one final card for the 2017 season at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The 12-dash program begins at 1 p.m. with the featured pacing lining up in Race 11 for a $2,400 purse.
Painted Desert has been no worse than second in his last three tries in this class, including two victories, but has to overcome Post 6 for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile., Que. The veteran son of Western Ideal has been on top of his game this season with five wins, including a lifetime mark-tying score of 1:55.3.
Forever Paradise will loom a real danger in their Sunday afternoon showdown from Post 2 with trainer Kevin MacLean electing to put Summerside leading driver Marc Campbell at the lines. Nicknamed the King of Island racing, Campbell has complete control over the driving and training standings in Summerside with 57 driving wins and 26 training wins at the half-mile oval.
“Forever Paradise has been going toe-to-toe with the best the region has to offer,” race analyst Bo Ford said. “Expect with his gate speed and inside position that Campbell can make front, control it and use his eighth-of-a-mile sprint to win it in the lane.”
Other entries in the top event include Jeb (Jason Hughes), Machinthesand (Ken Murphy), Red Magician (Adam Merner), Allstar Seelster (Norris Rogers) and Junebugs Baby (Myles Heffernan).
Instant Shadow is the morning-line favourite in the $1,400 finale event for driver MacPherson, trainer Sifroi Melanson and New Brunswick owners Ultimate Stables of Greater Lakeburn and Robert Kyle of Calhoun.
The afternoon back-up pace has another New Brunswick horse favoured with J Rs Hurricane drawing that distinction for owner-trainer Jean Charles Belliveau of Scoudoc. Merner drives the mainland pacer from Post 6 in Race 7 with other top entries in that class, including George (Walter Cheverie) and Mando Fun (Kenny Arsenault).
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
