For All We Know, Willow Warrior set to duel at CDP

Doubling up against the top pacing mares on Canada’s eastern seaboard is no small task, but Willow Warrior will try her luck tonight on the final Thursday night program of the year at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Post time is 7 p.m. for the 12-dash affair that features throwback Thursday with a $1 race program, hot dogs and pop for $1.50, plus second chance draws and more.

The three-year-old daughter of Western Terror made waves last week, upsetting the $2,250 Open Mares by three lengths in 1:57 for driver Mark Bradley, trainer Brendan Curran and owner Alby Curran of Vernon Bridge.

Her task will be tougher this week, as she has drawn the outside Post 7 against her six Race 7 rivals with last week’s runner-up, For All We Know, drawing Post 1 for driver Gary Chappell.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac will place his faith in For All We Know.

“She has nothing but firsts and seconds the past couple of months and with her now on three straight runner-up finishes she appears poised for the top spot,” MacIsaac said.

Also in the field are Yankee No More (Marc Campbell), General Luckypercy (Ron Matheson), Stayoutofmyaffair ( Jason Hughes), JK Special (Walter Cheverie) and Bunny Mach (Corey MacPherson).

The top conditioned pace of the night lines up in Race 11 for a $2,000 purse with a field of six, including The Big Bite from Post 6 for driver Mike Stevenson, trainer Thane Arsenault and owners Jack Arsenault of Charlottetown, Donna McIver of York, Edward Blaisdell of Montague and Deborah Wilson of Elmsdale, N.S.

The Shark Gesture pacer upset the former top Thursday night pacer, Forever Paradise, last week with a 1:57 victory. Forever Paradise will seek redemption while SOS Grappa (Hughes) is another top contender.

The evening trot classes lines up in Race 3 with JK Queen being the pre-race favourite. Cheverie will drive the trot mare.