CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Prettyndangerous has an ideal starting post for her contest today at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP) after vanquishing all comers in the fillies and mares open in recent weeks.
The 13-dash card begins at 12:30 p.m. with the featured pacing mares heading to the gate in Race 12 for a $2,350 pot.
Prettyndangerous leaves from Post 2 as the morning line favourite, fresh off a pair of wins in her latest starts at this level.
David Dowling is back in the driver’s seat behind the Bo Ford-trained daughter of Armbro Deuce, who is co-owned by Ford and Arnold Myers.
Collective Wisdom was a third-place finisher in her last start and retains the services of rookie driver Drew Neill from Post 3, while West River Ambyr has drawn Post 4 with Steven Shepherd back aboard the Harold Shepherd-trainee.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac selects Prettyndangerous to hit the wire first.
“Prettyndangerous was a bit inconsistent earlier in the year, but not so now as five straight top-three finishes will attest to,” MacIsaac said. “She's beaten this class in back-to-back starts and there's been nothing to indicate the streak won't reach three.”
The Cabo Pan Lucas retirement pace hits the track in Race 11 for a $1,500 purse.
Cabo Pan Lucas has been a hard-hitting race horse at the CDP since coming to P.E.I. in 2011 for owners Gary Poulton and Alan Walker of Charlottetown.
His retirement race will see Harbourlite Jerry as the morning line choice from Post 2 with Shepherd in the bike for trainer Harold Shepherd and owner Ralph Jardine of Arthur, Ont.
Other top entries include All Turain (Dowling) and Painted Pony (Campbell).
Sunday
After a perfect season in the 2018 stakes season, Sock It Away has graduated to aged company and will have his biggest test to date on Sunday.
The 13-dash program has a special 2 p.m. post time out of respect for Remembrance Day services.
Sock It Away will try to extend his streak to 17 straight in the Race 12 preferred pace carrying a $2,650 purse.
Campbell, CDP’s leading driver, will be at the lines of the Post 3 starter for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. The son of Pang Shui was a winner in 1:55.1 in a hard-fought stretch duel in his latest start in the $11,000 Island Breeders final.
Governor’s Plate champion Czar Seelster has Post 6 in the short field with Mike McGuigan back at the helm while Rockin Indy rides a two-race win streak into the event with rail control for driver David Dowling.
MacIsaac admits Sock It Away’s perfection is appealing but thinks the jump to face some of the best pacers around will be too much.
“Czar Seelster made up a ton of ground last week after the tardy start, had to come first up at the half and still kicked home in 28 and change for the win,” MacIsaac said. “Off a performance like that how do you go against him? You don't.”
Race 11 is the Remembrance Day pace with Dusty Lane Zendaya the favourite from Post 1 with Adam Merner at the lines for trainer Stephen Gass off of two straight victories. The race carries a $1,600 purse.
The John J. Thompson Memorial pace lines up in Race 9 in honour of the horseman and Second World War veteran, who passed away one year ago this month.
Woodmere Ideal Art enters the race fresh from a near-miss against Sock It Away, as he was a nose short of beating the undefeated pacer in the Island Breeders final. Hughes will drive Woodmere Ideal Art again in this week’s $2,350 event for trainer Sifroi Melanson and owner Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, N.B.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
