Rocks Shining Star favoured in Gold Cup final

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The final three spots for the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final, presented by Atlantic Lottery, will be decided Monday evening (Aug. 12) during Trial 3 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino during Old Home Week harness racing.

The 14-dash Monday card starts at 6 P.M. with the $15,000 Gold Cup and Saucer Trial slated as the race 14 finale.

Rocks Shining Star is the favourite in Trial 3 with Jason Hughes aboard for trainer Jamie Smith and owner Thestable.ca. The five-year-old son of Rockin Image is a five-time winner this season with earnings over $150,000 in 2024. The gelding’s last race was a 1:51.1 victory at the Open level at The Meadows in Pennsylvania in line to Stable.ca founder Anthony MacDonald, who won the Gold Cup and Saucer in 2022 with Sintra.

Heaven On High N is another Smith trained entry in the race from post 3 with Brett MacDonald in the race bike. The 15-time winner was a recent second in the $75,000 Beckwith Pace at Plainridge Park in Massachusetts.

Smooth Lou, who won the Gold Cup and Saucer in 2021, has drawn post 6 in Trial 3 for trainer-driver Corey MacPherson fresh off a 1:53.3 victory at Red Shores Summerside his last start.

High Voltage Deo makes his Island debut for trainer Brendan Curran and new owners Alby Curran and High Voltage Deo Group. Adam Merner gets the catch driving call.

Island Beach Boy (To be driven by Brodie MacPhee) holds down post 2 from the Tom Weatherbie barn.

Bob Loblaw rides a three-race win streak into post 4 for driver Dale Spence and trainer Ken Middleton.

Southwind Sambucca (Marc Campbell) ships in from Woodbine Mohawk Park with post 5 for trainer Victor Puddy while Larry Karr (Austin Sorrie) is another Woodmere regular and will leave from post 8 for trainer Dean Nixon.

In the Trial 3 field, only driver Campbell and trainers Smith and Nixon have previously won the prestigious Gold Cup and Saucer final.

The program also features the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts in a lone $28,460 A-division in race 11 as well as four $6,000 B-divisions in races 4, 7, 9 and 13.

For race programs, live video, the Player Portal and more go to Redshores.ca. Wager online at HPIBet.com.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores