MacDonald sweeps first two Gold Cup trials

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Canada’s leading harness racing driver, James MacDonald, made a clean sweep of the first two Trials of the Gold Cup and Saucer Saturday evening (Aug. 10) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Gold Cup and Saucer Trial 1 had Save America (Captaintreacherous, Driven by James MacDonald) leave sharply off the gate to claim the lead from post 5 then release Binge On Yankee (Jody Jamieson) to the front at the 27.2 opening quarter over a sloppy track rated one-second off. Save America vacated the two-hole at the 56.4 half-mile station to take the front once again, hitting three-quarters in 1:25.2 then pacing away for a five-and-three-quarter length score in 1:52.1. Jamie Smith trains the winning pacer for owner Thestable Save America of Guelph, Ont.

Bing On Yankee held second with American History (Dale Spence) finishing third. Those three will advance to the Aug. 17 Gold Cup and Saucer Final, presented by Atlantic Lottery, carrying a $100,000 purse to close out Old Home Week 2024.

The fourth through sixth finishers (Bee Two Bee, PL Ozzy and One Eight Hundred) will face off again on Aug. 16 in the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation. A second consolation race, the PEIHRIA Invitational for $15,000, will be held on Saturday afternoon (August 17) containing seventh, eighth and ninth place finishers Bayfield Beach, Fern Hill General and Hes Sure Good from the first Trial.

The $15,000 dash in Gold Cup and Saucer Trial 2 had Fortify (Sweet Lou, MacDonald) ride the pocket to a 1:52.2 score for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Daniel Gaudreault and Ecuries Macguire Inc., of Quebec. Defending Gold Cup and Saucer champion Covered Bridge (Jody Jamieson) cut the fractions of 27.2, 56 and 1:24.3 to finish second while Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) punched his ticket to the $100,000 final in third.

Bounty Hunter, Blue Hunt and Saulsbrook Ian will go to the MacGregor consolation and Ilikemebettor A and Roll Em will join the PEIHRIA Invitational.

FORTIFY REPLAY

The $5,000 Birthplace Of Confederation Open Mares Series eliminations, in memory of Doug Hill, were won by Rosetown Mary (MacPherson) in 1:56.1 and Tobins Brownie (Dowling) in 1:56.4.

Newcomer Chasin Dreams captured the $6,000 Old Home Week Invitational Trot with Adam Merner in the seat for trainer Landon Campbell in a 1:59.1 clocking.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies also populated the program.

Dusty Lane Dixie (Barrieau) won her $15,320 A-division assignment over Fern Hill Indigo (Brodie MacPhee) and Sensational Gal (James MacDonald) in 1:57.4.

The other $15,320 A-division had Chip Of Evil (MacPherson) the best in 1:56.3 over Dowtown Tonight (Adam Merner) and Galway Girl (Marc Campbell).

The B-divisions were won by Shelleys Spirit (Myles Heffernan Sr.) in 1:58.1, Last Chance (Campbell) in 1:57.3, Promise Me Later (Dowling) in 1:57.2 and Rollwithitdarling (Campbell) in 1:56.1.

David Dowling had a training double and a driving triple while Marc Campbell visited the historic winner’s circle three times. Dowling continues his grip on the driving standings at 58 wins with Campbell and Merner now tied in second with 41 wins each. Barrieau is in close pursuit in fourth with 40 wins in 2024 at Red Shores Charlottetown.

Old Home Week live racing continues Monday evening (Aug. 12) at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown featuring the third and final Gold Cup and Saucer Trial. For more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores