CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A field of the finest pacers on the East Coast will assemble tonight to contest the Cecil Ladner Memorial Invitational at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 12-dash program begins at 6 p.m. with the $5,500 Ladner memorial lining up in Race 11.
Maritime seasonal record holder All Artist will get the respect of morning-line favourite from Post 5 and driver Gilles Barrieau elected off of two other mounts to drive the six-year-old son of Roddys Bags Again. Toby MacDonald nows trains the pacer, who just put in a sharp victory in 1:53.4 over Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia for owner Anthony Stymest.
Down On My Luck will control the rail in the field of eight with Jason Hughes in the bike for trainer Harold Shepherd and owner Robert Woodburn of St. Thomas, Ont. The five-year-old son of Camluck has yet to see the winner’s circle on the East Coast but has hit the top three in both his Island starts.
Doctor Royal was the top force in the preferred ranks early in the season and gets Post 2 for owner-trainer Dawn Ellis Abbott of Truro, N.S. Walter Cheverie picks up the catch drive on the pacers who sports a 1:55 speed badge this season.
Bugsy Maguire did not have a warm Island welcome in his debut as he was parked the route by Euchred but still hung around to finish third in last week’s preferred. Walter Simmons of Summerside holds the ownership papers of the five-year-old son of Bettors Delight, who will have Myles Heffernan Sr., in the race bike for trainer Wade Sorrie.
Rose Run Quest can never be counted out as he proved with a third place finish in last year’s The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer final. Trainer Marc Campbell will steer the Blair Hansen-owned pacer from Post 4.
Euchred has been controlling the front end in recent weeks but leaving from Post 6 tonight could tell a different tale. David Dowling drive the Shadow Play gelding for trainer Mike Dowling and owner Kayla Habicht Walker of Inverness, N.S.
Revenant has stepped up his game for his five-year-old season and has yet to miss a cheque against the big boys for owner Kyla MacDonald of Stanhope. Adam Merner will drive the nine-time winner from Post 7 for trainer Melissa Rennie.
Rounding out the field is Post 8 starter Screen Test. A former top three-year-old in Western Canada, Screen Test was a bang-up second in 1:54.2 in his latest start for William Andrew of Calgary, Alta., and Kickin Horse Stable of York. Corey MacPherson has been in the race bike for his four-year-old season with Stephen Gass handling the training duties.
Big Surf has been listed as the favorite in the Drive For Home Series presented by Hillside Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac on Race 8.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
