Sugar Man makes McKinnon’s Gold Cup dream a reality

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Mark McKinnon returned home to Prince Edward Island Saturday evening and watched a childhood dream move within reach as Sugar Man delivered a commanding harness racing performance in his $15,000 Atlantic Lottery Gold Cup and Saucer Trial at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Sugar Man and stablemate Fifth And Five both advanced to the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final, presented by Atlantic Lottery, for McKinnon and owner Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, Pennsylvania.

McKinnon grew up dreaming of winning the Gold Cup and Saucer but admitted he had largely surrendered that ambition after leaving the Island to work in Ontario.

“It was a childhood dream growing up, but one that I had basically given up on,” McKinnon said. “But here we are.”

Sugar Man ($3.10) was sent directly to the lead by driver Jody Jamieson in the first trial and controlled fractions of 26.2, 55 and 1:23 before closing the mile with a 27-second final quarter. The four-year-old son of Papi Rob Hanover stopped the clock in 1:50, winning by three-and-a-half lengths, just shy of the 1:49.4 track record held by Miki Shan N.

Brue Hanover (Driven by Jason Hughes) finished second for trainer Ashley Gamester, while Jordy N (Louis-Philippe Roy) was third for trainer Jacques Dupont. The first three finishers from each trial earned places in the Aug. 22 final.

Sugar Man’s victory made McKinnon the trainer of the probable favourite heading into Tuesday’s post-position draw.

“This is the dream,” McKinnon said. “This is the race I’ve always wanted to win. Having my name on them, putting the work in and everything that goes along with it, it’s definitely living the dream.”

McKinnon credited Pollack Racing’s Tom Pollack and the entire Dave Menary stable for giving him the opportunity to return home with the Gold Cup and Saucer starters.

“They’re so supportive,” McKinnon said. “They know the work we put in and they appreciate it. I couldn’t be more thankful to them for this opportunity.”

The Island-born horseman is accustomed to racing leading horses for major purses at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario, but Saturday’s trials brought a different level of emotion.

“We race great horses up there for big money week in and week out, but this was definitely a lot more when it came to the nerves,” McKinnon said. “Once we got in here and started working on things and warming them up, I settled down because I was busy. But all day was a little stressful.”

Menary was racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday but sent McKinnon a photograph showing that he was watching Sugar Man’s trial from the drivers’ room. The rest of the stable also celebrated the victory from Ontario.

“His daughter sent a big voice note screaming and yelling,” McKinnon said. “They’re definitely happy for us out here. I’m thankful for them too because they’re all working hard up there while they’re short-staffed.”

Helluva N ($12.30) captured the second trial by a head in a three-horse finish for driver Roy and trainer Dupont. Timeisonmyside (Anthony MacDonald) cut fractions of 27.1, 55.2 and 1:23 before Helluva N swept into contention and prevailed in 1:50.3.

Timeisonmyside finished second for trainer Jamie Smith, with McKinnon trainee Fifth And Five (Jamieson) only a neck back in third. Helluva N is owned by Ecurie CSL of Sorel-Tracy, Que.

Jamieson will have his choice between Sugar Man and Fifth And Five in the final, with McKinnon expecting the veteran reinsman to assess Tuesday’s draw before making a decision.

“I haven’t really talked to Jody alot yet, but he said both horses were great,” McKinnon said. “I assume he’ll probably wait until Tuesday and see how the draw goes.”

Defending Gold Cup and Saucer champion Miki Shan N ($5.20) successfully began his title defence in the third trial for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Chris MacKay. Ammo (Marc Campbell) controlled fractions of 26.4, 55.2 and 1:23.4 before Miki Shan N powered past in the stretch to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:51.2.

Ammo finished second for trainer Ron Matheson, while Trumpster Blues (Brady Sweet) completed the qualifying trio for trainer Jeff Holmes. Miki Shan N is owned by Kap Singh Racing Stable of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont., Earl Hill Jr. of Ohsweken, Ont., and Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge.

McKinnon said racing all three trials on the same evening provided equal conditions for every Gold Cup and Saucer hopeful. He expects Tuesday’s draw to play a major role in determining the outcome of the final.

“It’s still pretty wide open,” McKinnon said. “It’s going to come down to the draw. Tuesday is going to be a big factor. It’s still going to be a very tough group.”

McKinnon and Jamieson are both East Coast natives seeking their first Gold Cup and Saucer victory.

“He’s wanted it for a long time and he always comes out,” McKinnon said of Jamieson. “Hopefully we can team up and get it done.”

Live racing continues Monday evening at Red Shores Charlottetown with a 15-dash program beginning at 6 P.M. For more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores