Shark Attack In Charlottetown

The 51st edition of the Gold Cup & Saucer at the Charlottetown Driving Park lived up to the hype as Part Shark and driver Scott Zeron paced the fastest mile in the

history of the half-mile oval.

Part Shark roared to immediate command for his 21-year-old teamster and they led the multi-talented field through fractions of :26.4, :54.4 and 1:22.3 before finishing off the competition with a :28.2 final quarter en route to the 1:51 clocking. Race favourite Stonebridge Terror was second and Panda Bear rounded out the top three finishers in the $60,000 affair.

“He’s a good horse, he’s bred right and he’s going to get better with age,” said trainer Wayne Preszcator. “He’s been training well and Scott [Zeron] has a ton of respect for the horse and he drove him like he’s the best.”

“I love PEI,” roared Scott Zeron in the winner’s circle. “Like I said last week, if I made front he wouldn’t be beat tonight. I’m so glad for the owners and everyone involved with him.”

The four-year-old gelded son of Four Starzzz Shark-Pop Art, who is owned by the Secret Weapon Stables of Waterloo, ON, improved his 2010 record to 8-3-5 in 24 starts with the win and his overall bankroll climbed to $204,085.

The 1:51 score shaved one-fifth of a second off Silent Swing's former track record of 1:51.1 set on August 14, 2006 in his Trial for that year's Gold Cup & Saucer. Zeron becomes the youngest all-age track record holder in CDP history.

The Gold Cup & Saucer undercard featured a number of big events including the $16,800 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Mr Salming won as he pleased in the six-horse affair for trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau, who guided the son of Coastocoast Yankee-First To Fly to the 1:55.4 decision. The colt survived a first-over journey en route to defeating Dr Alexander B and Island Redemption.

Boyd MacDonald Prodce Ltd of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast, PEI share ownership on the eight-time winner, who has banked in excess of $22,000 this year and more than $54,000 in his career.

Grace And Harv overcame early interference to take home the top prize in the $9,500 final of the Spud Island Classic. The six-year-old Dexter Nukes miss, in rein to trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau, got up in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Abby Best in a time of 1:57. Olivia Hall grabbed the show dough.

Wayne MacRae of Fall River, NS and Howmac Farms Ltd of North Wiltshire, PEI share ownership on the 19-time winner, who is now 8-for-12 this year. Her bankroll climbed to $115,296 with the win.

Oceanview Sue was too hot for the competition to handle in the $7,000 Alpine Claiming Series for fillies and mares. The mare drew off to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Paid In Silver in a career-best clocking of 1:58. River Motion was third.

Brodie MacPhee teamed up with owner/trainer Gerald Evans of Stratford, PEI to win with the five-year-old daughter of Hunterstown.

Hueys Boy blew away his foes en route to taking the $7,300 Alpine Claiming Series for horses and geldings. The gelding came first-over and kicked away late to win in 1:55.4 over Victory George and Indy Seelster.

Mike Stevenson mapped out the winning trip for the four-year-old son of Cammibest, who is owned and trained by Sean McSwain of Vernon Bridge, PEI.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.