The $30,000 James "Roach" MacGregor Gold Cup & Saucer Consolation, presented by The Guardian, produced a blanket finish on Friday evening, Aug. 15 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, with New Brunswick-owned pacer Nuttin But Finesse getting up for the victory.
Driver Mike Downey orchestrated the winning trip from post two, landing mid-pack early before swinging second-over past the five-eighths to follow race favourite Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau), who was first-over and battling pacesetter Malignity (Paul Langille) after opening splits of :26.2 and :55.2.
The three-quarters mark was reached in 1:23.1 with Malignity fighting back but he was swarmed in the stretch drive as Nuttin But Finesse swung wide off cover to win in 1:52 for trainer Ellen Stevenson and owner Dr. Mitchell Downey of Saint John, N.B. Twin B Tuffenuff was second by half a length while Lakers Bank (David Dowling) was close by in third and Roll Em (Marc Campbell) closed well to finish fourth ahead of Saulsbrook Ian (Adam Merner).
Nuttin But Finesse, a seven-year-old son of Art Major and Nuttin But Trouble, earned his 34th career win and lifted his lifetime earnings to $382,237. He paid $9.70 to win as the 7-2 third wagering choice.
The $22,800 Lady Slipper Gold divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies highlighted the undercard of the program with three separate splits.
Howmac Magnificent ($6.30) delivered with rail control with Ken Murphy in the bike for trainer Joe Baxter and owner Peter Gilby of Lantz, N.S. The daughter of Malicious-General Luckypercy held off a late rally from favourite Tobins Dream (Brett MacDonald) to win by half a length in 1:58.1. Windemereontheline (Marc Campbell) was third.
The next Gold division produced a major upset as Mindbodyandsoul ($22.60) and driver Paul Langille rallied past heavy favourite Elm Grove Talia (David Dowling) for trainer Earl Watts. The Malicious-Mystic Eyes filly stopped the clock in 1:55.3 for the P.E.I. ownership group of Windemere Farms of Springvale, Beryl McNeill of Cornwall, Sterling Buchanan of Bonshaw and Jack Quinn of Charlottetown. Windemere Classie (Marc Campbell) was the runner-up, 1-3/4 lengths behind, while Elm Grove Talia faded to third.
The final Gold division went to Badgirl Bridgette ($3.80) with Jason Hughes steering the Stonebridge Terror-Whatabadgirl filly to her seventh straight win in 1:55.4 by 3-1/4 lengths. Bill Lanigan of Montague, P.E.I. owns and trains the filly, who turned back longshot Jafetica (Myles Heffernan Sr.) and Starship Laska (Marc Campbell).
The Grassroots divisions for sophomore pacing fillies carried $11,400 purses each and were claimed by Molly Malone ($6.70) with Paul Langille driving for trainer Fred Paynter in 1:56.4, Thelastartie ($11.20) in 1:58.4 for trainer Watts and driver Marc Campbell in 1:58.4 and upsetter Pop The Pin ($29.30) off a pocket trip for driver Jason Hughes to win in 1:57.2 for trainer Ashley Gamester.
In overnight action, Bet On The Moon ($7.40) won the Larry Spencer Memorial Pace in race one for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Yvanhoe Landry in a 1:58.1 mile.
The George Wilkie Memorial in race three went to Friar Voltaire ($5.20) and driver Brady Sweet in 1:55.3 for trainer Basil Hunter.
The Allan & Gloria Bradley Memorial in race five had Rock And Twist ($2.80) win for trainer Brendan Curran and driver Adam Merner in 1:55.1. The District 16 Cornwall-Meadowbank Liberal Association Pace in race seven went to Almanac ($2.50) in 1:56.3 for trainer Jennifer Doyle and driver David Dowling. In the Heath MacDonald MP Malpeque Pace in race nine, ABC ($8.30) won his third straight with a 1:56 mile for trainer Clifford Murphy and driver Ken Murphy while the John Hennessey DVM Pace in race 11 went to Gator Hanover ($4.50) and trainer/driver Adam Merner in a 1:56.4 clocking.
Live harness racing continues on Saturday with programs at 12 P.M., and 6 P.M., culminating in the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final, presented by Atlantic Lottery, as the last of 25-dashes on the day.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
Gold Cup & Saucer Glory Up For Grabs Saturday Night
The stage is set for one of the most electric nights in Canadian harness racing as the 66th edition of the $100,000 Gold Cup & Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, goes postward on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 15-dash Old Home Week finale has the Grade 3 Gold Cup & Saucer carded as the race 15 finale with the starting gate rolling at 6 p.m. (ADT) to start the card. An afternoon program also kicks off at 12 noon (ADT), at the historic Prince Edward Island oval featuring 10 dashes.
The $100,000 East Coast classic will have local driver Corey MacPherson looking for his first Gold Cup & Saucer title with morning line favourite Miki Shan N from post three from the Chris MacKay barn. The six-year-old son of Always B Miki-Yankee Dream has been undefeated since relocating to P.E.I. in June, and was a winner in Trial 2 in a track record-tying 1:50.1.
Arbitrage Hanover will start from post one for driver Billy Davis Jr. and trainer Anthony Stymest. A New Jersey Sires Stakes champion as a sophomore, he finished third in Trial 2.
Fresh off a gritty fourth-place finish in Trial 2, Fortify, with career earnings approaching the million-dollar mark, has post two for trainer Rene Bourassa with Gilles Barrieau picking up the catch-drive as the New Brunswick native seeks his fifth Gold Cup & Saucer victory after previously winning the race in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2017.
Australian import Its Major Major A landed a sparkling 1:50.3 victory in Trial 1 after laying parked at the start before moving forward to control the race. Marc Campbell gets the assignment for trainer Rene Bourassa as they look to deliver the driver’s fourth career Gold Cup & Saucer title after wins in 2013, 2015 and 2020.
Campbell and Barrieau are the only drivers in the field that have previously won this race.
Track record co-holder Bee Two Bee has shown a wicked late brush in his career and used it again in Trial 1, closing to finish fourth and earn his berth in the rich final. Jason Hughes will drive the post five starter for trainer Ashley Gamester.
Virgo was a solid runner-up in Trial 1 for trainer Darren Taneyhill and will get Brett Beckwith in the race bike for the final from post six. Beckwith currently sits fourth in North America with 401 driving wins in 2025 and will make his first appearance at Red Shores Charlottetown on Saturday.
Previous Gold Cup & Saucer finalist Legion Seelster will start from post seven from the Victor Puddy barn with Jody Jamieson in the sulky.
Completing the field is post eight starter Poseidon Seelster with Bob McClure in the bike for trainer Don Lindsey. He cut out the mile in Trial 2 and finished second to Miki Shan N.
The undercard for the $100,000 Gold Cup & Saucer is loaded with major stakes action setting the stage for one of the richest and most prestigious nights in Maritime harness racing.
Race 10 is a Gold division of the Joe O’Brien Memorial for three-year-old pacing colts, with a purse of $28,200. Phil My Beer, to be driven by Marc Campbell for trainer Landon Campbell, is favoured over One Wicked Man (Kenny Arsenault) and Rosetown Eclipse (MacPherson).
The other $28,200 Gold split in race 13 has Malevolent, trained and driven by Paul Langille, as the top choice over Evil Lou (Mike McGuigan) and Bentley (Marc Campbell).
Race 14 is the Birthplace Of Confederation Series final, in honour of Harris Johnston, for a purse of $17,500. The eight-horse final for aged pacing mares has Avyanna (Gilles Barrieau) as the top choice in post three with a three-race win streak on the line for trainer Bo Ford.
The $9,000 Premier’s Pace is another top event in race 12 with Darren Smith trainee Avatar J (Jason Hughes) favoured with post five.
Race one is the Miriam Simmons Memorial, thehe Kiwanis George Kays Memorial is in race two, with the Chris MacPherson Memorial in race three. Race four is an Old Home Week staple in The Papermaker Pace, honouring the 1988 winner of the Gold Cup & Saucer. Race five is the Birthplace Of Confederation Series consolation, while race six is the $7,500 Colonel Dan Trot featuring another showdown between Fight Song (Jason Hughes), Rocket Blast (Corey MacPherson) and Buckhead Ridge (Marc Campbell). The David MacPhail Memorial lines up in race seven, with the Mayor’s Pace in race eight, My Biggest Fan Foundation Pace is in race nine and the Minister Of Finance Pace lines up in race 11.
The Saturday noon card features $14,100 Joe O’Brien Memorial Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing colts in races five and 10.
Also on the card is the Guy Gaudet Memorial in race one, the Affleck Family Memorial in race two, Tom & Margaret Claybourne Memorial in race three, the Parker Realty Ltd., Pace in race four and the Donnie & Nan Simmonds Memorial in race six. Race seven of the afternoon program is the Charlie Blasidell Memorial, race eight is the Logan’s Montague Funeral Home Pace and race nine is the Rabbit MacDonald Memorial.
Fans can take in the spectacle live at the track or watch the Race Day broadcast at redshores.ca. Wager from anywhere in Canada through HPIbet.com.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)