Racing returns to Prince County

Forever Paradise, MacPherson headline special Summerside card

The action is back at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway and the special Friday evening program has no clear favourite in the preferred pace.

First race post time is 7 p.m. for the 12-dash program with the Race 11 $2,200 featured pace hosting a field of five top horses. Forever Paradise has Post 2 with Corey MacPherson in the bike for trainer Kevin MacLean and owners Reg MacPherson and David MacKenzie of Stratford and Aaron MacKenzie of Winsloe. The $153,000 winner was a finalist in this year’s Governor’s Plate final and gets four rivals in this tight-knit bout.

No great mischief is installed as the morning-line choice with Post 5 for trainer-driver Walter Cheverie while Narragansett leaves from Post 3 for Jason Hughes.

Summerside race analyst Bo Ford puts his faith in Forever Paradise.

“We don’t see much not to like since he was parked out every step three back,” Ford said. “Throw last week out from the eight hole where he still passed three of them down the lane and you’ll love what you see. With his gate speed, (he’s) clearly the one to beat from our eyes.”

Ultimately handsome (Kenny Arsenault) and Pictonian Storm (Gary Chappell) round out the field.

The evening $1,900 back-up pace hits the track in Race 9 with Darth Bader off the rail for trainer Ed Harvey fresh off a seasonal best performance at Charlottetown during Old Home Week racing. The 1:56.3 victory was courtesy of a Norris Rogers steer with the pacer getting the same pilot tonight. Old Buck is the morning-line choice from Post 4 with a pair of second-place finishes in his latest outings for trainer Alan MacDonald of Summerside. Regular driver Hughes is reunited with the four-year-old son of Ameripan Gigolo again this week.