Top pacers clash in Charlottetown

Machinthesand looks to remain red hot in Summerside

A trio of former Governor’s Plate hopefuls meets tonight at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

First race post time is 6 p.m. for the nine-dash program with Forever Paradise the morningline choice in the Race 8 $2,200 feature with Mike McGuigan aboard for trainer Kevin MacLean and owners Reg MacPherson and David and Aaron MacKenzie. The Post 3 starter was second his last outing in the $5,000 Governor’s Plate consolation in Summerside.

Narragansett captured that consolation race and draws Post 4 tonight for owner Foxyhall Racing of Nova Scotia. Trainer Jason Hughes is competing in stakes action in Nova Scotia tonight, leaving the catch driving call to Gary Chappell.

The other former Governor’s Plate consolation starter is Doing Some Damage, who drew Post 5 after a third-place finish to Narragansett and Forever Paradise last week. Brian MacPhee will be in the bike for trainer Trevor Hicken and owner Kent Livingston of Cornwall.

Race analyst Les MacIsaac gives the nod to Forever Paradise.

“It’s been over a month since his last win and for him, that’s an eternity,” MacIsaac said. “He’ll likely be cutting it and if Mike is able to steal a fraction somewhere throughout the mile it could be all over.”

The outside post in a field of fast pacers can often be a major deterrent, but after the monstrous trip Machinthesand unleashed last week, he may not be worried.

Machinthesand has the outside post-position in the field of seven top class pacers Sunday at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway. First race post time is 1 p.m. for the 10-dash program.

Norris Rogers will be driving Machinthesand, fresh off a devastating 1:55.3 performance for trainer Hughie Murphy and owners Noonan Holdings and Russell and Karen Noonan.