Rose Run Quest favoured in Red Shores pace
Painted Desert controls rail in Summerside Sunday feature
With a two-race win streak on the line Rose Run Quest will have to butt heads with an even longer win streak as he looks to conquer Saturday’s feature pace at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The action kicks off at 6 p.m. with 14-dashes on tap including the Maritime Breeder’s eliminations for two and three-year-old trotters.
The $2,400 preferred pace hits the track in Race 13 with the Marc Campbell trained and driven Rose Run Quest leaving from Post 4 in the field of seven.
Campbell, who celebrated career win number 500 as a trainer last with Island Energetic, also leads all drivers and trainers and in Atlantic Canada as part of his record breaking 2017 season. Rose Run Quest has been part of that action with wins in his last two races for owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown.
Elm Grove Kaboom has an impressive streak of three wins on the line, all in 1:54-1:55, but the fact he is not he favourite speaks to the depth of his preferred rivals. Earl Smith will drive Elm Grove Kaboom this week as regular pilot Campbell must drive his own trainee.
Forever Paradise has only missed the board once since Governor’s Plate week action, but must contend with Post 7 this week for driver Gilles Barrieau.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac gives the slight edge to Rose Run Quest to defeat his preferred competition.
“Rose Run Quest has been on a steady climb up the class ladder since Old Home Week and has yet to find a spot that doesn’t suit him and is sitting on back to back wins,” MacIsaac said. “We’ll give him a slight edge, but it’s so wide open the tote board might be your best friend.”
Other entries in the tough group include Mick Dundee (Don MacNeill), Ultimatelyhandsome (Kenny Arsenault), Caracci Hanover (Jason Hughes) and Adkins Hanover (Corey MacPherson).
The Maritime Breeder’s eliminations for trotters line up in Races 2 and 6 for the two-year-olds and Races 4 and 8 for the three-yearolds.
Pappy Go Go leads the way in the sophomore division from Post 3 in Race 4 as he looks to defend his undefeated season for trainer-driver Campbell and owner Grayland Farm of Pugwash, N.S.
In two-year-old action, Buckaroo (Campbell) and Ticked (Myles Heffernan) meet up again in Race 2 as the top four in that field make next week’s Maritime Breeder’s final. Atlantic Breeder’s Crown champion Windemeredontuworry has Post 2 in the other rookie split in Race 6 for driver Barrieau.
Fresh off a mile in 1:54 and change and with rail control, Painted Desert has the target on his back in Sunday’s top class at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
First race post time is 1 p.m. for the 12-dash program with the veteran son of Western Ideal the morning choice in the Race 11 $2,200 featured pace. Corey MacPherson drives the 25-time winner for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Perry Burke of GrosseIle, Que.
The compact field of five in the Sunday main event also has Old Buck with Post 2 for driver Kenny Arsenault and owner-trainer Alan MacDonald of Summerside. Old Buck has been rock solid all season, not missing the board since May 28.
Race analyst Bo Ford thinks rail control will play right into Painted Desert’s game plan.
“Painted Desert is coming off what might be his best race on red soil,” Ford said. “He has been razor sharp since reporting to the Hicken stable and with rail control today we feel he is the one to beat.”
Other feature entries include Rash B Havior (Norris Rogers), Keep Coming (Dale Spence) and Machinthesand (Ken Murphy).
The $1,150 Cecil Stewart Memorial pace lines up in Race 2 with Mjs Little Martha attempting a memorable victory for co-owner and trainer Lester Stewart and co-owner Michael Stewart of Albany. Arsenault will do the driving behind the fouryear-old daughter of Brandons Cowboy.
The Leon Stewart Memorial is in Race 4 for a $1,250 purse and Delightful Nights the top pick from Post 2 for driver MacPherson, trainer Blaine McKenna and owners Jamie Whalen of Avondale and Susanne MacKeigan of Nova Scotia.
More at www.redshores.ca.