City oval ready for new season

By Bo Ford

The lights will be turned back on, the harnesses will be shining and the horses will be pacing tonight at Red Shores in Charlottetown.

The city track has been in darkness when it comes to live racing since January when it shut down for the winter seasons.

The track has 11 races scheduled to go behind the gate tomorrow night with post time at 6 p.m.

The top class Preferred 1 features six of the Islands top horses all vying for the $2,200 purse.

From the rail out has Casual Motion (Joey Pineau), Blue Star Outlaw (Jason Hughes), Barrett Jackson (Mark Bradley, Matt Trapper (Brian Andrew), Unstoppable Speed (Corey MacPherson) and the outside post to Oakrock Almighty (Ron Matheson).

Blue Star Outlaw is the morning line choice of Gerald Smith, but track handicapper Les MacIsaac leads towards 2011 Cecil Ladner runner-up Oakrock Almighty.

“They don't come much more consistent than this guy. Closed out the year hitting the board in six of seven and today's outside post shouldn't be a factor since that's where he was for all of those. Top call,” said MacIsaac.

MacIsaac keyed in on This Bird Will Fly in the fourth race. The three-year-old stakes hopeful will leave from post-position three.

Paphos in race five is his value play of the day and Prince Country Horse of the Year Blu Meadow Willie is the long shot play of the day.

One name not listed to drive is one of the top drives in the Maritimes Kenny Arsenault who is out with an upper body injury.

“It’s just an old injury that happened a couple of years ago. Nothing to serious,” said Arsenault.

He has himself returning in a couple of weeks time once everything feels back to 100 per cent.

Mark Bradley has picked up seven drives on opening day and really likes his chances with Rich Raider in the 11^th.

“He qualified in 2:00. It’s a pretty good class, and I like my chances with him,” said Bradley.

The track will also feature five more qualifying races starting at 4:15 p.m. including Govener’s Plate winner Serious Damage and the tough top class pacer Roscoes Child.