Smooth Lou strongest in 62nd Gold Cup and Saucer

Smooth Lou braved a first-over trip and blew away the field in the 62nd edition of the $60,000 Gold Cup and Saucer, one of Canadian harness racing’s classic races, at Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday.

Driver Robert Shepherd found himself parked out with the son of Sweet Lou after flying into the first turn from post five. He briefly found a hole but quickly rerouted Smooth Lou first-over as leader Somewhere Fancy (David Dowling) slowed down after hitting the quarter mile marker in :27.2. Smooth Lou closed in as Somewhere Fancy cut a :56.1 half, and the pair threw down on the final trip through the backstretch.

Shepherd urged his charge past the favoured leader before three-quarters in 1:24.1, and Smooth Lou rocketed away from the field once clear. The five-year-old gelding created a three-length cushion turning for home and widened his margin down the stretch, with Shepherd raising his fist triumphantly as Smooth Lou and he crossed the finish line victorious in 1:51.1.

“Wow,” a tearful Shepherd said when asked for his thoughts as he approached the wire in his post-race interview.

Ideal Perception (Gilles Barrieau), who followed the winner’s cover, sustained his bid to finish second by five and three quarter lengths. Legion Seelster (Richard Simard) flew late for show. The win price was $10.50.

SMOOTH LOU REPLAY

Patrick Shepherd trains the five-year-old gelding for the Newton-based Triple S Equine and Robert and Ronald Woodburn of St. Thomas. They acquired the horse on Jul. 8 while he was racing at Hoosier Park and entered him three more times at the track before shipping him to Georgian Downs. He started once there in the Preferred 2 before his Gold Cup and Saucer bid. The horse finished second in his elimination. He is now 16-for-49 lifetime and has earned $167,381.

“It’s what we always wanted to win,” Robert Shepherd said post-race. “It was our night.”

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink