Windsong Leo and driver/trainer Daniel O'Brian went from last to first to take the $20,000 James 'Roach' MacGregor Memorial, the Gold Cup & Saucer Consolation, wrapping an action-packed double-header of harness racing on Friday (August 18) that also featured the final leg of the 2017 World Driving Championship.
There was an early three-way battle for the lead between Junebugs Baby (Myles Heffernan Sr.), Stover (newly crowned World Driving Champion James MacDonald) and Skyway Boomer (Brett MacDonald) to the first turn.
With the inside post advantage, Junebugs Baby took command on the way to the :27.4 quarter mark and rebuffed the pressing Skyway Boomer, who settled into a two-hole opening as Stover backed through the field.
Junebugs Baby continued to lead the way through a half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:26 while McKinney (Jason Ryan) went three-wide off cover with Windsong Leo rallying further out from the backfield in the stretch and soaring to victory in 1:54.2. McKinney settled for second, half a length away, and Skyway Boomer finished back in third.
Shipping in from Ontario for the Gold Cup & Saucer, Windsong Leo earned his second win of the year from eight starts and 12th victory lifetime. He paid $6.40 to win.
The five-year-old Jeremes Jet-Windgsong Goldie gelding, who has banked almost $130,000 in purses lifetime, is owned by Everette Hanson of Maugerville, N.B.
The Friday night program also featured the Lady Slipper Stakes, with a pair of $11,600 Gold divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies. Dusty Lane Zendaya earned her seventh win of the season prevailing by half a length over Woodmere Finesse in 1:56.2 in rein to Corey MacPherson for trainer Ronnie Gass, owner Alexis Gass and the Estate of Shelley Gass. Driven by Gilles Barrieau, Traces Of Purple notched her third straight win and fifth on the year with a 1:56.3 career-best effort for breeder Kevin Harvey and trainer Robert Phillips, who share ownership.
The $5,700 Grassroots divisions were won by: Lusty Delight and Barrieau in 2:00.4 for trainer Jackie Matheson; Southfield Sue and Marc Campbell in 1:59.3 for Vance Cameron; and Livin The Moment in 1:58.2 for trainer/driver Jason Hughes.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following links: Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening.