One of the most prestigious races in Canadian harness racing will have the first six entrants decided in a pair of Gold Cup and Saucer trials on Saturday (Aug. 12) evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Saturday will feature one of the greatest cards ever fielded at Red Shores Charlottetown, with the mega-event starting at a special 4 p.m. post time with 15 dashes to go behind the gate.
The last two races of the program are $12,500 Gold Cup and Saucer trials with the top three from each dash advancing to the Aug. 19, $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final, presented by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.
Red Shores Summerside track record holder Roll Em has rail control in Trial 1 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and local owners Brady Doyle, Savage Stable, Brent Campbell and Ryan MacLeod. The Time To Roll five-year-old has made six trips to the winner’s circle since coming to P.E.I. this season and will have his toughest test to date against a stacked field of pacers.
Funatthebeach N, a former winner of the Battle Of Lake Erie Invitational in Ohio, is installed as the morning line favourite from post four in Trial 1 with Scott Young picking up the drive for trainer Jeff Gillis. The nine-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere has already won in 1:50.1 over the half-mile oval at Yonkers Raceway in New York this season.
Also in Trial 1 are Twin B Tuffenuff (to be driven by Gilles Barrieau), Rockabilly Rebel N (David Dowling), Bonus Round (Dave Kelly Jr.) and Livinthebeachlife (Jody Jamieson).
Gillis trainee Covered Bridge is the top selection in Trial 2 with Scott Young in the seat for owner Mark Ford of Campbell Hall, New York. The American Ideal pacer has strung together 11 victories from 23 starts in 2023 while earning over $368,000 in purses. The 36-time winner was a winner in 1:49.4 earlier this season at Yonkers.
American History, a Preferred pacer at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario, leaves from post two for his Island debut for trainer MacKenzie Spence and owner Patrick Hill of Fredericton, N.B. Dale Spence is back in the seat after winning the Kelti Burnett Memorial at Connell Park in Woodstock, N.B., on Aug. 4 in 1:55.1 over an off track.
Trial 2 also includes YS Mathis (Campbell), Bayfield Beach (Jamieson), Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) and Repeal Or Replace (Myles Heffernan Sr.).
The program also features the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, the Colonel Dan Trot as part of the Island Trot Challenge presented by Fox Group, as well as the Birthplace Of Confederation Open Pacing Mares Series, in honour of Don & Ian Smith.
For entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores)