Facing a challenge
Forever Paradise’s win streak on the line today
Forever Paradise has been top dog in recent weeks, but that could all change today at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
First race post time is 12:30 p.m., with Forever Paradise the morning-line choice in the Race 14 finale for trainer Kevin Maclean and owners Reg MacPherson and David MacKenzie of Stratford and Aaron MacKenzie of Winsloe.
Mike McGuigan picks up the catch drive as regular pilot Corey MacPherson abandons the three-race win streak he has set up with Forever Paradise in favour of Post 8 starter and newcomer Adkins Hanover.
Now trained by Ambyr Campbell, Adkins Hanover was a winner in his latest outing in 1:57.1 at Flamboro Downs in Dundas, Ont.
The 22-time winner shows miles in 1:54 and change over half-mile tracks and now makes the trek east for new owner Perry Burke of Quebec.
Other entries in the $2,300 featured pace include Mcjestic (Jason Hughes), Rash B Havior (Ken Murphy), Pictonian Storm (Wade Sorrie), Smiley Bayama (Adam Merner), Simon Said (Kenny Arsenault) and Junebugs Baby (Myles Heffernan).
Dusty Lane Zendaya continues her ascent of the class ladder in Race 8 with MacPherson in the bike for trainer Ron Gass and owners Shelley and Alexis Gass, all of Cornwall.
It will be the toughest test to date for Dusty Lane Zendaya as the three-year-old daughter of Aahm Canadian Now faces tough aged pacing mares like Nashurallability (Don MacNeill), Alittleeastermagic (Ron Matheson) and Someone Like You (Hughes).
The $1,700 trot class lines up in Race 4 with Holy Molie Maggie the favourite for driver Gary Chappell and trainer Jeff Holmes.
Other top entries include Parkhill Jugernaut (Campbell) and Howmacs Pride (Arsenault). The Nashville Predators activated defenceman P.K. Subban off injured reserve Friday afternoon and he was expected to play Friday night in Edmonton. Subban, 27, has missed 16 games with an upper-injury and was placed on injured reserve Jan. 1. He has seven goals and 10 assists in the 29 games he’s played with Nashville. The defenceman says the Predators, coaches, trainers and himself all came to a consensus Friday morning he was ready to return. He tested himself a final time at Friday morning’s skate.