Willow Warrior has the talent and the post position, but she will need a little luck to knock off the best mares in Atlantic Canadian racing Thursday night at Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park.
First-race post time for the 12-dash card is 7 p.m.
Willow Warrior has drawn Post 1 in the $2,250 Fillies and Mares Open Pace (Race 6). Mark Bradley has been listed to drive for trainer Brendan Curran and owner Alby Curran of Vernon Bridge. The three-year-old Western Terror filly sports an impressive summary of seven wins and three seconds from 12 seasonal starts, including a crushing 1:57.3 victory by 18 lengths in her latest start, a Lady Slipper division at Summerside Raceway on October 5.
The shift to aged company will not be an easy one for Willow Warrior, as she is set to face the best aged mares Prince Edward Island has to offer. The Jackie Matheson-trained duo of For All We Know (to be driven by Gary Chappell) and General Luckypercy (Ron Matheson) have drawn Post 5 and 6, respectively, in the compact field of a half-dozen. Both rarely finish out of the top three, and Post 4 has another contender in Stayoutofmyaffair for trainer-driver Jason Hughes.
Also in the field is Bettim Jenny (Marc Campbell) from Post 2 and JK Special (Walter Cheverie) with Post 3.
The evening’s trot class will line up for Race 3, which carries a purse of $1,150. Juarez Cyclone (Brian MacPhee) has received the nod as the morning line favourite over contenders Duchess Ofnormanby (Ken Murphy) and Howmacs Pride (Campbell).
To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)