Months after Island native and harness racing industry mainstay Brian Andrew passed, his daughter Rachel Andrew sent new acquisition Midway Island to a 1:52.1 victory in the $12,500 first trial for the Guardian Gold Cup & Saucer on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Charlottetown Driving Park.
“It’s a pretty emotional win, really,” driver Travis Cullen said after the race. “Brian [Andrew] he meant a lot to me, so for Rachel to come here and win at her home track… it means a lot.”
Cullen sent Midway Island to the front, clearing pylon-starter Doctor Royal approaching a :28.1 opening quarter. Somewhere Fancy, fourth around the first turn, then tipped outside and brushed to the lead before hitting the far turn.
Somewhere Fancy accelerated towards a :55.4 half as the outer tier stalled due to Make Some Luck going on a gallop passing the grandstand. Bettors Fire N made slight gains uncovered moving through the backstretch while Somewhere Fancy and Midway Island separated from the field moving to three-quarters in 1:24.2. Cullen kicked off the cones with Midway Island circling towards the finish and shot past Somewhere Fancy to win. Bettors Fire N took third while National Debt rounded the finalists.
A five-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere, Midway Island won his sixth race from 21 starts this season and his 21st from 80 overall, earning $237,134. Andrews and Cullen purchased the $7.60 winner from Mark Weaver et. al on July 30 with the intent of racing in the Gold Cup & Saucer.
“I texted [Mark] only 10 days ago and asked him ‘Any chance you got a horse that you think would be a contender in the Gold Cup?’ And so he gave me a list of a few horses,” Cullen said, “and me and Rachel decided this was our best bet out of the ones. He was only at our farm for a day and a half and then Rachel came here—and she’s been here five days now with him—so she’s done a tremendous job with him. He proved he’s a nice horse.”
Do Over Hanover brushed to the top and wired his competition in the evening co-feature: the $5,000 Birthplace of Confederation Series. Driver Jason Hughes sent the odds-on choice to the lead from post 6 and cleared passing a :28.3 opening quarter. From there the six-year-old Western Ideal gelding paced a :56.4 half and slowed towards three-quarters in 1:26.1, prompting Woodmere Ideal Art to angle first over from third and press the pace. Do Over Hanover withstood the challenge and drew from a head to a length in front of second-place finisher Rollwithitharry, who circled from second over to best Woodmere Ideal Art.
Owned by Donald Mac Rae, Allard Racing Inc. and Don Mac Neill Jr., Do Over Hanover won his first race from seven starts this season and his 26th from 78 overall, earning $286,851. Chris MacKay conditions the $3.70 winner.
Later Traces Of Purple came from second over to take the $2,800 Fillies & Mares Open Pace over handicapped-mare Sodwana Bay in 1:57.1. The five-year-old Brandons Cowboy mare sat fifth to a :28.2 opening quarter set by Rocknrols Image and snagged cover from Sodwana Bay as she advanced uncovered through a :59.1 half. Sodwana Bay took a narrow lead on Rocknrols Image and cleared past three-quarters in 1:28.3 but gradually lost her advantage through the stretch as Traces Of Purple ground past to win by a half length. Ramblinglily, sitting second over around the final turn, finished close in third.
Owned and trained by Robert Phillips, Traces Of Purple won her third race from nine starts this season and her 17th from 67 overall, earning $82,309. Marc Campbell drove the $13.40 winner.
To view Saturday evening's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.