Canada’s leading driver, James MacDonald made a clean sweep of the first two Trials of the Gold Cup & Saucer, contested over a sloppy track on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Gold Cup & Saucer Trial 1 had Save America (Driven by James MacDonald; pictured above) leave sharply off the gate to claim the lead from post five then release Binge On Yankee (Jody Jamieson) to the front at the :27.2 opening quarter. Save America vacated the two hole at the :56.4 half-mile station to take the front once again, hitting three-quarters in 1:25.2 then pacing away for a 5-3/4 length score in 1:52.1. Jamie Smith trains the winning pacer for owner Thestable Save America of Guelph, Ont.
Binge On Yankee held second with American History (Dale Spence) finishing third. Those three will advance to the Aug. 17 Gold Cup & Saucer Final, presented by Atlantic Lottery, carrying a $100,000 purse to close out 2024 Old Home Week.
The fourth through sixth finishers (Bee Two Bee, PL Ozzy and One Eight Hundred) will face off again on Aug. 16 in the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup & Saucer consolation. A second consolation race, the PEIHRIA Invitational for $15,000, will be held during an afternoon card on Aug. 17 containing seventh, eighth and ninth place finishers Bayfield Beach, Fern Hill General and Hes Sure Good from the first Trial.
The $15,000 dash in Gold Cup & Saucer Trial 2 had Fortfiy (MacDonald) ride the pocket to a 1:52.2 score for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Daniel Gaudreault and Ecuries Macguire Inc., of Quebec. Defending Gold Cup & Saucer champion Covered Bridge (Jody Jamieson) cut the fractions of :27.2, :56 and 1:24.3 to finish second while Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) punched his ticket to the $100,000 final in third.
Bounty Hunter, Blue Hunt and Saulsbrook Ian will go to the MacGregor consolation and Ilikemebettor A and Roll Em will join the PEIHRIA Invitational.
The $5,000 Birthplace Of Confederation Open Mares Series eliminations, in memory of Doug Hill, were won by Rosetown Mary (Corey MacPherson) in 1:56.1 and Tobins Brownie (David Dowling) in 1:56.4.
Newcomer Chasin Dreams captured the $6,000 Old Home Week Invitational Trot with Adam Merner at the controls for trainer Landon Campbell in a 1:59.1 clocking.
The Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies also populated the program. Dusty Lane Dixie (Barrieau) won her $15,320 'A' division assignment over Fern Hill Indigo (Brodie MacPhee) and Sensational Gal (James MacDonald) in 1:57.4.
The other $15,320 'A' division had Chip Of Evil (MacPherson) the best in 1:56.3 over Downtown Tonight (Adam Merner) and Galway Girl (Marc Campbell).
The 'B' divisions were won by Shelleys Spirit (Myles Heffernan Sr.) in 1:58.1, Last Chance (Campbell) in 1:57.3, Promise Me Later (Dowling) in 1:57.2 and Rollwithitdarling (Campbell) in 1:56.1.
All Bets On Tex prevailed in the $4,000 Preferred 1 Pace in 1:54.1 for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Jeff Lilley, who co-owns with PEI-based owners Blair Maclauchlan, Kent Livingston and Marc Gallant.
David Dowling had a training double and a driving triple while Marc Campbell visited the historic winner’s circle three times. Dowling continues his grip on the driving standings at 58 wins with Campbell and Merner now tied in second with 41 wins each. Barrieau is in close pursuit in fourth with 40 wins in 2024 at Red Shores Charlottetown.
Old Home Week live racing continues Monday, Aug. 12 at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown featuring the third and final Gold Cup & Saucer Trial.
For the results from Saturday's card of Old Home Week harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)