The road to the $100,000 Gold Cup & Saucer final runs through three $15,000 trials on Saturday, Aug. 15 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park during Old Home Week Racing.
The capital oval has a 16-dash presentation beginning at 5 p.m. (ADT) Saturday, with the Atlantic Lottery Gold Cup & Saucer trials lining up in Races 12, 14 and 16. The program also features the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and the Birthplace Of Confederation Series, in honour of Wilma McClure.
Post one starter Sugar Man has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite in the first $15,000 trial. Jody Jamieson will drive the Mark McKinnon trainee, who was a winner at Yonkers Raceway in 1:53.1 on July 28. Jordy N, who sports a win in 1:48.3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park last month, is the 3-1 second choice from post five with Louis-Philippe Roy driving for trainer Jacques Dupont. Governor’s Plate champion Get Wings has post seven for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Vaughan Doyle while Brue Hanover leaves from post three with Jason Hughes aboard for trainer Ashley Gamester.
Former Gold Cup & Saucer runner-up Twin B Tuffenuff has post four for Gilles Barrieau and trainer Ron Matheson while Summerside Raceway track record holder Arbitrage Hanover starts from post six for trainer Clifford Murphy and driver Kenny Murphy in his Gold Cup & Saucer trial debut. Last year’s James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup & Saucer consolation winner Nuttin But Finesse leaves from post two for Mike Downey and trainer Ellen Stevenson.
Kurt Hughes with Post Time Picks is going with Sugar Man in Trial 1.
"Sugar Man has been competing against the best aged horses in North America and has fared out quite well. He had a horrible post and trip in the Graduate final at The Meadowlands and still rallied to finish fourth. Brue Hanover and Jordy N are both major players in this trial but Sugar Man has the coveted rail spot, so I'm giving him the slight edge in here."
In the second $15,000 Gold Cup & Saucer trial, Fifth And Five drew the outside in the field of seven. Jamieson reacquaints himself with the Mark McKinnon trainee, who has been competing at The Meadowlands and enters Saturday off a mile individually timed in 1:47.1.
Dalton Shard N is the 5-2 morning line favourite from post two for driver Jason Ryan and trainer Francis Guillemette after charging home in :25.4 in his latest start at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The field also includes Mappos Lion from the rail for driver Ryan Campbell and trainer Taylor Doyle with a three-race win streak on the line while Timeisonmyside leaves from post three for trainer Jamie Smith and driver Anthony MacDonald as he ships in from The Meadows. Newcomer Helluva N starts from post four with Roy driving for Dupont, Storm Shadow has post five for Downey and trainer Stevenson while JMR Speak Away starts from post six with Barrieau driving for trainer Darren Crowe after his narrow loss in the $50,000 Governor’s Plate final last month in Summerside.
The third and final trial takes to the track in the finale with newcomer Papis Rocket drawing post six. David Dowling drives the Jennifer Doyle trainee, who has been competing at Yonkers Raceway in New York and arrives with a lifetime best of 1:48.3 taken at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Miki Shan N, the defending Gold Cup & Saucer champion, has post two with Corey MacPherson driving for trainer Chris MacKay. The veteran pacer was second in his latest Charlottetown appearance and will look to earn another chance at the coveted Gold Cup & Saucer crown.
Cecil Ladner Memorial winner Ammo has post one with Marc Campbell driving for trainer Ron Matheson while Miraculous Desbi N leaves from post five with Roy aboard for Dupont after being race timed in 1:48.4 in his latest. Trumpster Blues has post four for trainer Jeff Holmes and driver Brady Sweet, Soaring Now leaves from post three with Barrieau driving for trainer Victor Puddy, The Magic Moment has post seven for Jason Ryan and Guillemette and Its Major Major A starts from post eight with Jamieson driving for McKinnon.
The top three finishers from each trial will advance to the $100,000 Gold Cup & Saucer final, presented by Atlantic Lottery, which will cap off Old Home Week on Saturday, Aug. 22. The full fields for the trials are listed below in post position order.
$15,000 Gold Cup & Saucer Trial #1 - Race 12
Post – Horse – Driver - Trainer
1. Sugar Man – Jody Jamieson – Mark McKinnon
2. Nuttin But Finesse – Mike Downey – Ellen Stevenson
3. Brue Hanover – Jason Hughes – Ashley Gamester
4. Twin B Tuffenuff – Gilles Barrieau – Ron Matheson
5. Jordy N – Louis-Philippe Roy – Jacques Dupont
6. Arbitrage Hanover - Kenny Murphy – Clifford Murphy
7. Get Wings – Marc Campbell – Vaughan Doyle
$15,000 Gold Cup & Saucer Trial #2 - Race 14
Post – Horse – Driver - Trainer
1. Mappos Lion – Ryan Campbell – Taylor Doyle
2. Dalton Shard N – Jason Ryan – Francis Guillemette
3. Timeisonmyside – Anthony MacDonald – Jamie Smith
4. Helluva N – Louis-Philippe Roy – Jacques Dupont
5. Storm Shadow – Mike Downey – Ellen Stevenson
6. JMR Speak Away – Gilles Barrieau – Darren Crowe
7. Fifth And Five – Jody Jamieson – Mark McKinnon
$15,000 Gold Cup & Saucer Trial #3 - Race 16
Post – Horse – Driver - Trainer
1. Ammo – Marc Campbell – Ron Matheson
2. Miki Shan N – Corey MacPherson – Chris MacKay
3. Soaring Now – Gilles Barrieau – Victor Puddy
4. Trumpster Blues – Brady Sweet – Jeff Holmes
5. Miraculous Desbi N – Louis-Philippe Roy – Jacques Dupont
6. Papis Rocket – David Dowling – Jennifer Doyle
7. The Magic Moment – Jason Ryan – Francis Guillemette
8. Its Major Major A – Jody Jamieson – Mark McKinnon
Fourth and fifth-place finishers from the three trials will advance to the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup & Saucer consolation on Friday, Aug. 21, along with two of the sixth-place finishers. The remaining five horses will be eligible to compete in the $15,000 P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association Invitational on Gold Cup & Saucer night.
To view Saturday's entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(with files from Red Shores)