With a final lunge at the wire, Twin B Tuffenuff got up to win the James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer Consolation, presented by The Guardian, Friday evening (Aug. 19) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park during Old Home Week.
In the $20,000 MacGregor Consolation, the entire field got away in a program order start as Cadillac Bayama (David Dowling) guarded the rail and set down all the fractions while post two starter Legion Seelster (Jimmy Gagnon) got away second and Twin B Tuffenuff watched the action from third in line to Kenny Arsenault. The quarter was hit in :27.1 followed by a :54.2 half-mile station with no movement, then when the backfield came calling, Arsenault committed his charge first-over heading to three-quarters in 1:22.3. Twin B Tuffenuff slowly advanced on the outside in the final stanza and surged at the finish to win by a nose in 1:51.1 over Cadillac Bayama with Legion Seelster third.
The 1:51.1 victory was the fastest career win for 62-year-old driver Arsenault, a winner of more than 3,300 races lifetime.
Pat Morris of Charlottetown owns 26-time winning pacer, who is a seven-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven, while Ron Matheson handles the training duties.
The $16,600 Gold divisions of the Lady Slipper Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies were won by Therealprincess (Corey MacPherson) in 1:56.2 for trainer Eddy Doucette and Cougar On A Terr (Danny Gillis) in 1:55.1 from the Walter Walker barn. Therealprincess remains undefeated this season in eight starts.
The $8,300 Lady Slipper Grassroots races for sophomore fillies were won by Cantstopthelovin (Dowling) in 1:55.3, T Ls Betty (Adam Merner) in 1:58, Kinda Like Royalty (Dale Spence) in 1:56 and Roses For Jennie (Jason Hughes) in 1:57.2.
The Old Home Week Invitational, sponsored by Dr. John Hennessey, saw the fastest opening quarter in the history of the Charlottetown Driving Park as Island Beach Boy (Mark Bradley) hit the first station in 26 seconds flat. Beachin Lindy would sit last and circle the field to win the $6,000 dash in 1:52.1 for owner, trainer and driver Stephen Charlton of Ontario.
It will be an Old Home Week to remember for Morgan Sheppard, who scored her first career training win in the second race with four-year-old pacing gelding Shakemeup Hanover ($7.80), owned and driven by Colin Sheppard. The 21-year-old Brackley Beach, P.E.I. trainer made it to the winner's circle in just her 10th start.
Live harness racing continues with a double-header program Saturday with post times at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The evening card will be capped off by the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer presented by Atlantic Lottery.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(With files from Red Shores)