The 2016 season has seen, quite possibly, the best trotters in the history of Atlantic Canadian Harness Racing, and those trotting stars will take to the track again on Thursday evening (July 7) at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.

 

First-race post time for the 12-dash program is 6:30 p.m., and Frill Seeker will attempt to remain atop the roost of the Open Trot class in Race 6.

 

Frill Seeker has drawn Post 4 in the $1,950 contest. Trainer Kenny Arsenault will handle the driving duties against five foes for owner Ebbsfleet Stable of Ontario. The Angus Hall eight-year-old was a dominant winner in his latest race, which was clocked in 1:58.3, thus his rivals will need to step up their game to defeat him.

 

Wedgewood was the runner-up in Frill Seeker’s aforementioned win. Gary Chappell will again hold Wedgewood’s lines from Post 2 on Thursday. Professor Gordon, who was a force earlier in the season, will make his return to pari-mutuel racing with driver Vincent Poulton from Post 1. Professor Gordon had equipment problems in his last start, which came on June 16. Other entries include Neal (to be driven by Brian Andrew), Majian Dillon (Jim Ripley), and Diamond Mine (Willie Murphy).

 

Race 8 will feature the Open mares’ trot class, which will feature a purse of $1,950. Osprey Impact has been named the morning line favourite. She comes into Thursday’s dash fresh off a 1:59.4 victory in last week’s Mares Open for driver Walter Cheverie and owner-trainer Paul Larrabee of Belle River. The Federal Flex mare has drawn the rail position, but has no slouches to her outside, as CDP and Summerside Raceway track record holder Thunderaway will start from Post 2 for Jason Hughes. Pleasure Girls has Post 3 with Adam Merner in the bike. She will be making her second start back on the east coast of Canada after a productive winter at Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ontario. Tyne Valley (Mark Bradley), Holy Molie Maggie (Corey MacPherson) and Paymenowpaymelater (Gilles Barrieau) round out the field of six.

 

The evening’s featured pace has been carded as Race 11, where Starcastic will be looking for redemption from Post 4 for driver Ron Matheson, trainer Jackie Matheson and owners Bobbi Jo Gaudet of Charlottetown and Billy MacKenzie of Stratford. In his latest start, Starcastic made a break at the start, but, even with loads of work to do, he responded with his last three quarters in 1:26 flat to only be beaten a little over a length by Bazillion, who has drawn Post 2 in this week’s Thursday night feature.