SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The 2019 live harness racing season kicks off with a special Victoria Day program on Monday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The nine-dash card begins at 1 p.m., with a tight-knit group to contest the Race 8 featured pace. The $2,600 race has Soccer Hanover the morning-line favourite from Post 2 with David Dowling receiving the catch-driving call from owner-trainer Leith Waite of Summerside. The five-year-old son of Dragon Again has been no worse than second from a pair of seasonal outings including a 1:56.1 new lifetime best on opening day in Charlottetown.
Screen Test has rail control behind the starting gate with Corey MacPherson at the lines for trainer Stephen Gass. A newcomer to Island racing, Screen Test was a third-place finisher to Soccer Hanover in his first start in Eastern Canada. Iron tough aged race horse Red Magician is listed as second choice in the morning line with Adam Merner back in the bike for trainer Melissa Rennie.
The field also includes Mando Fun (Dale Spence) and Confident Fella (Mike McGuigan).
The afternoon finale will serve as the back-up class on opening day at the Prince County oval. Emperor is pegged as the one to beat in the $2,200 event going postward in Race 9. MacPherson will be in the race bike for owner-trainer Ralph Sweet of O’Leary from Post 6. Ultimatelyhandsome is the 3-1 second choice form Post 4 with Merner in the bike for trainer Sifroi Melanson while Coasttocoastshark is another top entry from Post 2 the combination of driver Ken Murphy and trainer Jeff Wallace.
– Compiled by Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores.
