Miki Shan N launched off a second-over trip for driver Corey MacPherson and defeated the tenacious Poseidon Seelster to capture the 66th edition of the Gold Cup and Saucer on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
MacPherson, a Prince Edward Island native, won the Gold Cup and Saucer for the first time. He dedicated the victory to his late grandfather, Glenn Taylor, who introduced him to harness racing.
“He was watching tonight,” MacPherson said in his post-race interview.
MacPherson opted to drop back from post three in the $100,000 event and settled in sixth while fellow trial winner and favourite Its Major Major A (Marc Campbell) went forward to the lead. Its Major Major A put up :27 and :55 panels in the first half but showed signs of wear as they turned for the backstretch. He was unable to resist Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure), who was parked the mile to that point but flew by the previous pacesetter to take the front.
As Poseidon Seelster cleared to the top at three-quarters in 1:24.1, he released Miki Shan N, who had been on his back, setting the stage for a final-quarter throwdown. Miki Shan N’s momentum carried him a length past Poseidon Seelster, but the latter held onto his inside advantage and battled back on the final turn. Poseidon Seelster fought fiercely at the pylons, but Miki Shan N straightened for home with a slight advantage and powered to the wire to triumph by a length in 1:51.2. Poseidon Seelster was a superb second, and Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) went from last to third.
MacPherson was jubilant after the win.
“It’s amazing, this is the thrill of a lifetime,” he said. “To get to drive a horse like this amazing, but to win a race like this – it’s crazy.”
Miki Shan N is still undefeated on Prince Edward Island with seven victories since moving to the province and trainer Chris MacKay’s barn. He completed the sweep of signature events at the Red Shores tracks, having also won the Governor’s Plate at Summerside Raceway on July 19. The son of Always B Miki-Yankee Dream has won 17 of 54 lifetime starts and has earned $273,930. He 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.
Miki Shan N returned $4.50 to win as the 6-5 second choice.
In the undercard feature, Avyanna lived up to her 1-5 billing as she cruised to victory in the $17,500 Birthplace of Confederation Mares Series Final. Gilles Barrieau pushed her forward into the first turn, commanding speed from the mare to claw her way to the front in a :28.3 first panel. She brought the field to the half in :57.3, easily repelled the first-over Sugar Bowl (Billy Davis Jr.) on the way to three-quarters in 1:25.4, and required little insistence from Barrieau to hold off pocket-tripper Rosetown Mary (MacPherson) and reach the line a length in front in 1:54.2. Windemere Saddy (Campbell) was third.
Avyanna, who raced in the Maritimes at two, returned to the East Coast to begin her four-year-old campaign and is now perfect in four starts for trainer Bo Ford. The daughter of Roll With Joe-Saulsbrook Alana improved her lifetime haul to nine wins and $179,161 in earnings from 26 appearances. She is owned by Hailee Currie of Rocky Point, P.E.I. and Carol Campbell of Baddeck, N.S. She returned $2.40 at the windows.
Get Answers (Marc Campbell) took the $8,500 consolation of the series in 1:55.1 for trainer Landon Campbell and owners Brady Doyle of Stratford, P.E.I. and Ryan and Everett MacLeod of Souris, P.E.I.
Malevolent jogged in the second of two $28,200 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold divisions for sophomore pacing colts. After muscling to the top at the quarter in :28.4, he laid down :57.2 and 1:26.1 panels on a loose lead before blasting off to a 8-1/4-length victory in 1:54 with trainer Paul Langille in the bike. Bentley (Marc Campbell) was best of the rest, followed by Woodmere Rocketman (Barrieau).
Malevolent, a Malicious-Lady Kelleigh Anne gelding, has won back-to-back stakes convincingly and is now four-for-eight this year. The defending Atlantic Breeders Crown champion is owned by Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner, N.S. and Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow, N.S. His win price was $2.10.
Phil My Beer also deployed front-stepping tactics in the first split. He fired into the first turn in the center of the track, hustling forward for Marc Campbell and crossing over onto the lead before the first station in :27.1. He got soft middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:26.4 and held off a host of challengers down the lane for a three-quarter-length score in 1:54.3. Rosetown Eclipse (MacPherson) edged out One Wicked Man (Kenny Arsenault) for place.
The winning son of Shanghai Phil-Hazel won for the fourth time this season in 12 tries for trainer Landon Campbell and owners Doyle, Ryan MacLeod, Kent MacDonald of Stratford, and Brent Campbell of Charlottetown, P.E.I. He paid $3.40.
Sonny Black ($14.20) took the $9,000 Premier’s Pace, getting every call in a 1:55 victory for driver Myles Heffernan and trainer Trevor Hicken.
Buckhead Ridge ($2.80) won the $7,500 Colonel Dan Trot in 1:56.4 for his fourth straight victory. Marc Campbell drove the gelding for Landon Campbell.
The replay of the full broadcast is available below.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
O'Brien Memorial Grassroots Feature On Afternoon Card
The $14,100 Joe O’Brien Memorial Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing colts highlighted the 10-race afternoon card that preceded the main program.
The first Grassroots split went to Camco Lucas ($5.50) as Brodie MacPhee steered the Malicious-Camco Terra sophomore to a 1:55.4 victory. Trained by Tom Weatherbie for owners Hal and Ian Smith, the gelding advanced to challenge leader Chromed Up (Campbell) in the third quarter and edged clear down the stretch to win. Arthur Idlam (Brett MacDonald) completed the top three finishers.
In the second Grassroots division, Dusty Lane Levi ($2.70) lived up to his billing as the heavy favourite, going first-up in the third quarter and taking command in the stretch for a 1:56.3 score by 4-3/4 lengths. MacPherson drove the Lather Up-Rock Be A Lady gelding for trainer Greg Weatherbee and owners Tammy and Kathy Johnston. Big Pond Cash (Campbell) set the tempo before finishing second, with Marc It Up (Gilles Barrieau) third.
In Race 2, the Affleck Family Memorial, Moonfall ($7.60) took the $3,350 event by a neck in 1:57.1 with MacPhee in the seat for trainer Tom Weatherbie, who reached the 500-win plateau.
The Guy Gaudet Memorial opened the program with Bronx Drifter ($4.40) delivering on his favourite status for driver Barrieau and trainer Trevin Shive in 1:53.4.
Trainer Tammy Collings sent out Longblacklimousine ($3.40) to a dominant 13-length victory in the Tom & Margaret Claybourne Memorial trotting event in Race 3, with Langille guiding the three-year-old to a 1:58.3 mile.
In the Parker Realty Ltd. Pace (Race 4), Cheddarisbetter ($6.40) had the winning kick for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Shive, stopping the clock in 1:56.2 with a one-length margin.
The Donnie & Nan Simmonds Memorial (Race 6) went to Fout ($12.20) as driver Zach Noye orchestrated the 2-1/2-length wire-to-wire victory in 1:56.2 for trainer Jay Noye.
The Charlie Blasidell Memorial Trot (Race 7) was captured in style by Bless Me Father ($2.10), crushing his rivals by seven lengths in 1:57.2 with Marc Campbell in the bike for trainer Donna Van Meer.
Love Party ($4.80) supplied trainer Blaine McKenna with a two-length win in the Logan’s Montague Funeral Home Pace (Race 8) in 1:58.4 with Paul MacKenzie steering the mare to the top prize.
The Rabbit MacDonald Memorial (Race 9) had an upset as Elm Grove Mistress ($13.70) powered home to nail down the victory by a neck in 1:55.3 for driver David Dowling and trainer Jennifer Doyle.
To view the Saturday afternoon card harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Red Shores Charlottetown (Afternoon).
(Standardbred Canada & Red Shores)