Avatar J beats Gold Cup Champion

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Avatar J converted a perfect pocket ride into a trip to the harness racing winner’s circle knocking off the Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer champion Saturday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. 

Gilles Barrieau was at the lines of Avatar J as he sat the two-hole in the $3,400 preferred pace while race favourite Time To Dance (Driven by Marc Campbell) set the tempo of 28.2, 58.1 and 1:27.4. Barrieau angled his charge out of the two-hole for the stretch drive to get up to win in 1:55.2 as part of a grand slam driving performance on the evening card.

Time To Dance was second while GA Speed Sammy (David Dowling) charged home to be third. Danny MacDonald trains Avatar J for owners Dean Larkin of Ontario and Jody Sanderson of Cornwall.

Barrieau scored a pair of wins from his own barn as Day Delight romped in 1:54.2 and McPat was a 1:55.2 victor. The reinsman’s other win was in a catch drive aboard Applecorp Hanover in 1:57.1 for owners Doug Matheson of Cornwall, Dunsan Farms of Warren Grove and Stewart MacDonald of Charlottetown.

Jeff Holmes had a pair of victories from his Pinette stable on the evening with Burn Out Hanover (Corey MacPherson) an easy 17-length winner in 1:55 and Rose Run Quest (Dowling) scoring his 50^th lifetime win in 1:57.1.

Jason Hughes made two visits to the winner’s circle driving his own trainees with Jeb winning in 2:02.3 and Sports Report upsetting at 25-1 odds in 2:00.3.

Total wager was $87,232.

For race replays and more go to Redshores.ca.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores