CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – After suffering a flat tire in his last start and having his win streak snapped at three, Rose Run Quest will get the number two man from his stable in the race bike this afternoon at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 13-dash card hits the track at 12:30 p.m. with Rose Run Quest teaming up with the assistant trainer in the record-setting Marc Campbell stable. Ryan Desroche will sub in for Campbell behind the Post 5 starter in the Race 9 $2,400 preferred pace for owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown after Campbell finished second with the pacer on New Year’s Eve with a flat tire. The son of If I Can Dream has put together an impressive eight victories since joining the Campbell team during Old Home Week racing in August.
Other preferred pace starters include Drivingthedragon N riding a three-race win streak for trainer-driver Jason Hughes but forced to race the boys this week, and the ultra-consistent Czar Seelster with Todd Weatherbee in the bike. Woggy Rocks (Driven by Gary Chappell) and Smiley Bayama (Adam Merner) round out the field.
Desroche picks up three drives from the Campbell stable today, as Campbell is competing in the North America Drivers Championship at Miami Valley Raceway in Ohio with all the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday action being shown at both Red Shores locations with 3:05 p.m. Atlantic start times for each card.
Desroche gets the call on Woodmere Articblue with rail control in Race 10, as well as veteran pacer Eagle Jolt from Post 1 in Race 12 as the morning line favourite.
Speaking of Desroche, the horse the young driver scored his first career win aboard will retire during this afternoon’s card. Onehotvett will leave from Post 8 in Race 6 for driver Wade Sorrie, trainer Austin Sorrie and owner Tammy Collings of Hazel Brook.
Force Seelster makes his East Coast pari-mutuel debut in Race 7 of the program for new owner-trainer Clifford Murphy, with son Ken Murphy doing the driving. The six-year-old son of Stonebridge Regal boasts 13 lifetime wins and $45,000 in purse earnings along with a 1:56.3 record taken over Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ontario. The pacer had been racing the claiming classes in Ontario before being acquired by his new connections.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
