Gold Cup And Saucer finalists to be decided Saturday

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The road to the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final runs through three $15,000 trials Saturday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park during Old Home Week Racing.

The capital oval has a 16-dash presentation beginning at 5 P.M., with the Atlantic Lottery Gold Cup and Saucer trials lining up in races 12, 14 and 16. The program also featured the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and the Birthplace Of Confederation Series, in honour of Wilma McClure.

Sugar Man has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite in the first $15,000 trial in race 12 from post 1. Jody Jamieson will drive the Mark McKinnon trainee who was a winner at Yonkers Raceway in 1:53.1 on July 28. Jordy N, who sports a win in 1:48.3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park last month, is the 3-1 second choice from post 5 with Louis-Philippe Roy driving for trainer Jacques Dupont. Governor’s Plate champion Get Wings has post 7 for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Vaughan Doyle while Brue Hanover, a new addition for his Island owners, leaves from post 3 with Jason Hughes aboard for trainer Ashley Gamester.

Former Gold Cup and Saucer runner-up Twin B Tuffenuff has post 4 for Gilles Barrieau and trainer Ron Matheson while Summerside Raceway Track Record Holder Arbitrage Hanover starts from post 6 for trainer Clifford Murphy and will see the first ever Gold Cup and Saucer Trial appearance by driver Kenny Murphy. Last year’s James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation winner Nuttin But Finesse leaves from post 2 for Mike Downey and trainer Ellen Stevenson.

Kurt Hughes with Post Time Picks is going with Sugar Man in Trial 1.

“Sugar Man has been competing against the best aged horses in North America and has fared out quite well. He had a horrible post and trip in the Graduate final at the Meadowlands and still rallied to finish fourth. Brue Hanover and Jordy N are both major players in this trial but Sugar Man has the coveted rail spot, so I’m giving him the slight edge in here.”

Race 14 hosts the second $15,000 Gold Cup and Saucer trial with Fifth And Five drawing the outside in the field of seven as Jamieson drives the Mark McKinnon trainee, who has been competing at The Meadowlands and enters Saturday off a 1:47.1 mile.

Dalton Shard N is the 5-2 morning line favourite from post 2 for driver Jason Ryan and trainer Francis Guillemette after charging home in 25.4 in his latest start at Woodbine Mohawk Park while Helluva N leaves from post 4 with Roy driving for Dupont. Mappos Lion has the rail for driver Ryan Campbell and trainer Taylor Doyle with a three-race win streak on the line while Timeisonmyside leaves from post 3 for trainer Jamie Smith and driver Anthony MacDpnald as he ships in from The Meadows in Pennsylvania. Storm Shadow has post 5 for Downey and trainer Stevenson while JMR Speak Away starts from post 6 with Barrieau driving for trainer Darren Crowe after his narrow loss in the $50,000 Governor’s Plate final last month in Summerside.

The third and final trial takes to the track in race 16 with newcomer Papis Rocket drawing post 6. David Dowling drives the Jennifer Doyle trainee, who has been competing at Yonkers Raceway in New York and arrives with a lifetime best of 1:48.3 taken at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Miki Shan N, the defending Gold Cup and Saucer champion, has post 2 with Corey MacPherson driving for trainer Chris MacKay. The veteran pacer was second in his latest Charlottetown appearance and will look to earn another chance at the coveted Gold Cup and Saucer crown.

Cecil Ladner Memorial winner Ammo has post 1 with Marc Campbell driving for trainer Ron Matheson while Miraculous Desbi N leaves from post 5 with Roy aboard for Dupont after being race timed in 1:48.4 in his latest. Trumpster Blues has post 4 for trainer Jeff Holmes and driver Brady Sweet, Soaring Now leaves from post 3 with Barrieau driving for trainer Victor Puddy, The Magic Moment has post 7 for Jason Ryan and Guillemette and Its Major Major A starts from post 8 with Jamieson driving for McKinnon.

The top three finishers from each trial will advance to the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final, presented by Atlantic Lottery, which will cap off Old Home Week on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Fourth and fifth-place finishers from the three trials will advance to the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation on Friday, Aug. 21, along with two of the sixth-place finishers. The remaining five horses will be eligible to compete in the $15,000 P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association Invitational on Gold Cup and Saucer night.

Play at the track or from home through HPIBET.COM. For the Race Day broadcast, race programs and more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores