Arbitrage Hanover delivered a sensational performance on Friday, Aug. 21, winning the $30,000 James “Roach” MacGregor Memorial Gold Cup & Saucer Consolation in 1:50.2 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, while undefeated Windemere Skye and new track record holder Fitness First starred in the Lady Slipper Stakes.

Driver Kenny Murphy sent Arbitrage Hanover ($6.70) forward from post three in the evening's finale and settled third through a sizzling opening quarter of :25.4, the fastest ever in Atlantic Canadian racing history, tripped by The Magic Moment (Brett MacDonald) battling with favourite Papis Rocket (David Dowling) for command.

The Magic Moment cleared the lead then saw Papis Rocket pop the pocket instantly and retake the lead at the three-eighths mark. That was when Murphy made his move first-over with Arbitrage Hanover from the three-hole.

“My horse got away good, and when they were playing cat and mouse on the front, I said, ‘Let’s keep the pressure to them,'” said Murphy afterwards in the winner’s circle.

Arbitrage Hanover continued his grind on the outside past the half of 54 seconds then over to three-quarters of 1:21.2.

“My horse is a tough horse. Going to three-quarters, I knew Dowling was in trouble, and I still had some horse. This horse just keeps going.”

Arbitrage Hanover struck the lead and opened daylight around the final turn before holding a hard-closing Dalton Shard N (Jason Ryan) at bay by one-length.

“When I dropped my wheel down down, I said, ‘Oh my God.’ I couldn’t hear too many footsteps behind me. I was looking at the TV [in the centrefield] and said, ‘I’m home. I got it.’ It was unbelievable.”

JMR Speak Away (Marc Campbell) completed the triactor ticket, with Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) fourth and Papis Rocket fifth.

Arbitrage Hanover stopped the clock in 1:50.2 for trainer Clifford Murphy and owners Ken Hardie of Bedford, N.S., and Glenn and Justin Hardie of Middle Sackville, N.S. The five-year-old son of Bettors Wish-Ana Hanover had set the Summerside Raceway track record with a 1:50.3 performance earlier in the season.

Murphy described the MacGregor Memorial as the most significant victory of his driving career.

“This is the biggest race, I would say, in my career,” beamed Murphy. “It’s just the prestige of the race. There’s no doubt. It’s an unbelievable race to win.”

The celebration was expected to remain relatively quiet, although Murphy admitted his customary nightly bowl of ice cream could be larger than usual.

“That might be a double scoop tonight,” he joked. “You know what? I might have a triple scoop tonight.”

In other action, Windemere Skye ($2.80) kept her perfect career intact in the second $24,650 Lady Slipper Gold division for three-year-old pacing fillies. 

Marc Campbell moved the Earl Watts trainee to challenge leader Serenity Now (Jason Hughes) before the 1:24.2 three-quarter station, then inherited command when that rival made a break entering the final turn. Windemere Skye powered home four lengths clear in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.1, recording her 19th victory from as many career starts for breeder Windemere Farms of Springvale, P.E.I. and co-owner Matt Burke of Stratford, P.E.I. Lila Berry (Corey MacPherson) finished second, with Mattnificent Rose (Paul Langille) third. 

The 1:53.1 victory is a record for an Atlantic-sired three-year-old filly on the East Coast and ties the all-age female record for Atlantic-breds at an Atlantic track, co-held by Woodmere Skyroller and Sensational Gal.

The Somewhere Fancy-Howmac Missy filly inflated her career earnings to $188,875.

Fitness First ($2.60) dominated the earlier Lady Slipper Gold division in a new track record for three-year-old filly pacers of 1:52.2 for trainer/driver Corey MacPherson and owner James Gorman of South Melville, P.E.I. 

The daughter of Stay Hungry-Apogee Hanover swept to the lead before the 1:24.4 three-quarters mark and drew away by six lengths over Elm Grove Uncannie (Ken Murphy), with Bakers Dozen (Marc Campbell) third.

Fitness First smashed Mystifying's 2021 divisional track record by four-fifths of a second. 

Also a Lady Slipper Stakes Gold winner as a freshman, she now has nine victories in 19 career starts with earnings just shy of $90,000.

The $12,355 Lady Slipper Grassroots divisions were won by: Mrs Gallant ($16.30) and driver Ryan DesRoche in 1:56.1 for trainer Joe Baxter; Starship Sundancer ($6.20) and Paul Langille in 1:55 for trainer Earl Watts; Howmac Fancy ($7.60) and Corey MacPherson in 1:57 for trainer Kyle Williams; Into The Maelstrom ($4.80) and Ken Murphy in 1:56.4 for trainer Clifford Murphy; and Bayonetta ($3.60) and Marc Campbell in 1:55.1 for trainer Landon Campbell.

Live harness racing continues on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. (ADT) then in the evening at 5 p.m. (ADT), with the Gold Cup & Saucer program at Red Shores Charlottetown. 

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.

(With files from Red Shores)