The field for the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer 67, presented by Atlantic Lottery, was determined by three $15,000 Gold Cup and Saucer trials on Saturday, Aug. 15.
Mark McKinnon returned home to Prince Edward Island and watched a childhood dream move within reach as Sugar Man delivered a commanding performance in the first trial.
Sugar Man and stablemate Fifth And Five both advanced to next Saturday's final for McKinnon and owner Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, Pa.
McKinnon grew up aspiring to win the Gold Cup and Saucer but admitted he had largely surrendered that ambition after leaving the Island to work in Ontario.
“It was a childhood dream growing up, but one that I had basically given up on,” McKinnon said. “But here we are.”
Sugar Man ($3.10) was sent directly to the lead by driver Jody Jamieson and controlled fractions of :26.2, :55 and 1:23 before closing the mile with a 27-second final quarter. The four-year-old son of Papi Rob Hanover-Sweet As Sugar won by 3-1/2 lengths and stopped the clock in 1:50, just shy of the 1:49.4 track record held by Miki Shan N. Brue Hanover (Jason Hughes) finished second for trainer Ashley Gamester, while Jordy N (Louis-Philippe Roy) was third for trainer Jacques Dupont. The first three finishers from each trial earned places in the final.
Sugar Man’s victory made McKinnon the trainer of the potential favourite heading into Tuesday’s post-position draw.
“This is the dream,” McKinnon said. “This is the race I’ve always wanted to win. Having my name on them, putting the work in and everything that goes along with it, it’s definitely living the dream.”
McKinnon credited Pollack Racing’s Tom Pollack and the Dave Menary stable for giving him the opportunity to return home with the Gold Cup and Saucer starters.
“They’re so supportive,” McKinnon said. “They know the work we put in and they appreciate it. I couldn’t be more thankful to them for this opportunity.”
The Island-born horseman is accustomed to racing leading horses for major purses at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario while working as part of Team Menary, but Saturday’s trials brought a different level of emotion.
“We race great horses up there for big money week in and week out, but this was definitely a lot more when it came to the nerves,” McKinnon said. “Once we got in here and started working on things and warming them up, I settled down because I was busy. But all day was a little stressful.”
McKinnon and Jamieson are both East Coast natives seeking their first Gold Cup and Saucer victory.
“He’s wanted it for a long time and he always comes out,” McKinnon said of Jamieson. “Hopefully we can team up and get it done.”
Menary was racing at Mohawk on Saturday but sent McKinnon a photo showing that he was watching Sugar Man’s trial from the drivers’ room. The rest of the stable also celebrated the victory from Ontario.
“His daughter sent a big voice note screaming and yelling,” McKinnon said. “They’re definitely happy for us out here. I’m thankful for them too because they’re all working hard up there while they’re short-staffed.”
Sugar Man, a winner at Yonkers Raceway at Pocono Downs this season, is now three-for-12 on the campaign and 11-for-40 lifetime with $400,635 in earnings.
Helluva N ($12.30) captured the second trial by a head in a three-horse finish for driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Jacques Dupont. Timeisonmyside (Anthony MacDonald) cut fractions of :27.1 and :55.2 with Helluva N sitting fifth. Helluva N came second-over to three-quarters in 1:23, swung out at the top of the stretch, and roared up late to nab the Jamie Smith-trianed Timeisonmyside in 1:50.3. Fifth And Five (Jody Jamieson) finished third in the three-way photo.
Helluva N is owned by Ecurie CSL of Sorel-Tracy, Que. The nine-year-old son of Mach Three-Desire Mhe won for the first time in North America while making his fifth start on the continent. Including his partial campaign in Australia, the gelding is four-for-15 this year. The trial win brought his career record to 19-for-102 and his bankroll to $224,183.
Roy said he's looking forward to a chance to win a second Gold Cup and Saucer.
"(Helluva N) kinda liked the half-mile, he goes around those turns perfectly," he told Ken Warkentin in a post-race interview. "What (more can you ask for) than a finish like that here in a trial like that? I love (the Gold Cup and Saucer), I won it 10 years ago (with Ys Lotus), I wanna repeat this year. It's so fun to see the crowd, to see the group of good horses we have this year here. It's just exciting."
Jamieson will have his choice between Sugar Man and Fifth And Five in the final, with McKinnon expecting the veteran reinsman to assess the draw before making a decision.
“I haven’t really talked to Jody a lot yet, but he said both horses were great,” McKinnon said. “I assume he’ll probably wait until Tuesday and see how the draw goes.”
Defending Gold Cup and Saucer champion Miki Shan N ($5.20) successfully began his title defence in the third trial for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Chris MacKay. Ammo (Marc Campbell) controlled fractions of :26.4, :55.2 and 1:23.4 before Miki Shan N powered past him from the pocket in the stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.2. Ammo finished second for trainer Ron Matheson, while Trumpster Blues (Brady Sweet) completed the top trio for trainer Jeff Holmes.
Miki Shan N is owned by Kap Singh Racing Stable of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont., Earl Hill Jr. of Ohsweken, Ont. and Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I. The fastest horse in Atlantic Canada history is four-for-18 in 2026. The seven-year-old son of Always B Miki-Yankee Dream won for the 24th time in 79 career starts and raised his earnings to $382,571.
MacPherson said the stallion was sharp off a place finish in a tightener on Aug. 8.
"(The connections) never tell me how to drive, and they said 'just have him flying on the end,'" he told Warkentin. "And he was flying. It really bravened him up and it helped for this week."
McKinnon said racing all three trials on the same evening provided equal conditions for every Gold Cup and Saucer hopeful. He expects Tuesday’s draw to play a major role in determining the outcome of the final.
“It’s still pretty wide open,” McKinnon said. “It’s going to come down to the draw. Tuesday is going to be a big factor. It’s still going to be a very tough group.”
The card also featured a pair of $22,350 P.E.I. Colt Stakes divisions for three-year-old pacing males. Zero Two Sixty ($3.50) streaked away after setting the fractions of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:27.2 to a 4-1/4-length victory in 1:55.1. Windemere Britt (Paul Langille) was second, followed by Smilin With Lou (MacPherson). Zero Two Sixty set a new career mark with his second win of the season in 11 outings for trainer Sifroi Melanson. The son of Tobago Cays-J J Mistress has earned $101,257 and won nine of his 25 lifetime appearances.
The gutsy Oceanview Lou ($16.10) kept going after a lengthy first-up trip to take the second division. After racing third to the quarter in :27.1 for Brodie MacPhee, he left the pylons to lock horns with leader Darbies Fancy (Jody Jamieson) through the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.1. Oceanview Lou continued to gain despite losing ground on the far turn, grinded past Darbies Fancy, and defeated the traffic-splitting Woodmere Mahomes (Gilles Barrieau) by a head in 1:55.2. Darbies Fancy finished third.
Oceanview Lou, trained by Tom Weatherbie, is four-for-13 this season and five-for-23 lifetime with a bankroll of $62,073. Weatherbie of Charlottetown, P.E.I. co-owns the Blood Money-Dreamfair Eclipse gelding with F. Ian Smith of Stratford, P.E.I.
Among four $11,175 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Grassroots splits for three-year-old male pacers, Blazing Cays ($2.50) took his fifth consecutive win. He led all the way from the inside draw, posting fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:27.4 on the way to a lifetime-best 1:56.1 victory by a length from Mr Harris (Marc Campbell). The Sun And Moon (Jason Hughes) was third. Trainer Darren Crowe drove Blazing Cays for owners Keith and Lewis MacDonell of Port Hood, N.S. and Route Nineteen Racing of Judique, N.S. The Tobago Cays-Jenna Grace gelding has won five of eight starts this season and is seven-for-14 in his career with $15,626 earned.
The other winners were Saltwater Captain ($10.80) in 1:57.1, Goose Commander ($6.10) in 1:56.1 and Mclovin ($2.80) in 1:56.3.
Bee Two Bee ($3.20) captured the $6,250 Preferred Handicap Pace to tally his 50th career victory. The 2025 Gold Cup and Saucer show finisher led into the first turn from post one, laid down the panels of :27.3, :56 and 1:24.1 for Jason Hughes and parried Fast Louie (David Dowling) down the lane by a half-length for the 1:51.4 victory. Freemans Legacy (Jaycob Sweet) completed the ticket.
Bee Two Bee's 50th victory brought his lifetime earnings to $576,772 in 192 starts. He is four-for-13 this season. Ashley Gamester trains the nine-year-old Sunshine Beach-Bee Fullof Steinam stallion for MacRae and Blair MacLauchlan of Charlottetown.
A livestream replay of the full card is available below.
Live racing continues Monday evening at Red Shores Charlottetown with a 15-dash program beginning at 6 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(Red Shores & Standardbred Canada; photo of Sugar Man winning on Aug. 15)