Easy pickings for Bob Loblaw in Gold Cup and Saucer Consolation

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – With a confident steer from harness racing driver Dale Spence, Bob Loblaw (Sunshine Beach) was much the best in the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation Friday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The MacGregor consolation saw Bob Loblaw (Driven by Spence) leave alertly off the rail and releasing Bounty Hunter (Kenny Arsenault) to the lead at the 27.1 opening quarter. Spence wasted no time retaking the lead before the second turn and struck the half in 54.2 then the three-quarters in 1:23 with Blue Hunt (Jason Hughes) on the first-over attack. Bob Loblaw never relinquished an inch in the final quarter as he won by two-lengths over Blue Hunt in 1:51.2 while PL Ozzy (David Dowling) closed hard to finish third.

Ken Middleton co-owns and training the winner with co-owners David Walls, James Grant and Starting Centre Stables of Ontario.

The 14-dash program also featured the Lady Slipper stakes for three-year-old fillies.

Chip Of Evil (Corey MacPherson) won the fastest $18,500 Gold division in 1:54.4 for trainer Eddy Doucette and owner Inarush Stable of Kensington. Galway Girl (Marc Campbell) was second ahead of Woodmere Delta (Gilles Barrieau).

Starship Beauty scored a 15-1 upset in her $18,500 Gold division winning in 1:55.4 for the team of driver Dowling, trainer Kyle Williams and owner Dads Without Abs of Fredericton, P.E.I. Rollwithitdarling (Campbell) was a head back in second while Fern Hill Indigo (Brodie MacPhee) cut the fractions and settled for third.

Miss Dutton also had a career best performance, stopping the clock in 1:55 in her $18,500 Gold division for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Kuri White for Shoulda Been Onabeach Stb of Charlottetown. Miss Wicked (MacPherson) grabbed second while Downtown Tonight (Adam Merner) was third.

The $9,250 Grassroots Lady Slipper divisions for sophomore fillies were won by U No Peach (Arsenault) in 1:56.2 for trainer Vaughan Doyle, Czarspieceofheaven (Hughes) in 1:56.4 from the Todd Weatherbee barn, First Filly Chip (MacPherson) in 1:57.2 as part of a White training double and Windemere Saddy (Campbell) in 1:56.1 for trainer Brent Campbell.

Marc Campbell had four wins on the program while Hughes scored a driving triple.

Live racing continues Saturday at Red Shores Charlottetown for the final day of Old Home Week 2024. The day starts with an afternoon presentation at 12 P.M. featuring the P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association Pace for $15,000 as well as the Joe O’Brien Memorial stake for three-year-old pacing colts.

The evening card starts at 6 P.M., with the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final, presented by Atlantic Lottery finishing off the card in race 14.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores