Trainer Dr. Ian Moore is no stranger to Gold Cup and Saucer glory as he sends Lawless Shadow to the gate in Trial 3 on Monday (Aug. 14) evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The capital oval will host a 13-dash card commencing at 7 p.m. as part of Old Home Week 2023 with the $12,500 Gold Cup and Saucer trial, presented by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, hitting the track in the finale.
The third and final trial has a field of seven entrants with the top three advancing to the Aug. 19 $100,000 final while fourth through sixth place gets a place in the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation on Aug. 18.
Lawless Shadow is the morning line favourite in Trial 3 from post six for co-owner and trainer Moore, formerly of Summerside but now residing in Ontario, along with partners R G McGroup Ltd., of New Brunswick, Serge Savard of Quebec and Frank Cannon of Florida. The five-year-old stallion is sired by Shadow Play, who was campaigned by the same connections from 2007 to 2009. Tyler Moore will get the drive aboard his father’s trainee as the pacer looks to run up the score on his $961,044 in lifetime earnings.
P L Ozzy is heralded as a top contender from the outside post seven, fresh off a 1:50.4 victory at Rideau Carleton Raceway outside Ottawa on July 30 for local owners Jody Sanderson and Michael McKenna of Cornwall, P.E.I., Darren Smith of Rocky Point, P.E.I., and Shaun MacIsaac of Charlottetown. Jason Hughes gets the driving call for new trainer Danny MacDonald.
No Plan Intended is another local entrant, as the 2022 Gold Cup and Saucer runner-up will have David Dowling in the bike for co-owner and trainer Jennifer Doyle and co-owner Danny Birt of Earnscliffe, P.E.I. from post four.
The Jeff Lilley co-owned and trained Bettim Again will return for Gold Cup and Saucer trial action for partners Blair MacLauchlan and Ian MacDonald. The Malicious pacer was fourth in the final last year and gets Gilles Barrieau to drive from post two in Trial 3.
New Brunswick-owned Pick A Genre has rail control for driver Dr. Mitchell Downey and trainer Ellen Stevenson while Truro, N.S., pacer Batterup Hanover leaves from post five for trainer-driver Paul Langille.
Quebec-owned Major Hill, a finalist and fifth-place finisher in 2022, has post three with Marc Campbell driving for trainer Colin Johnson.
The program also features the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts in $15,500 A divisions in races nine and 11.
(Red Shores)