Glorious $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer for Sintra and MacDonald

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Sintra (Mach Three) and harness racing driver Anthony MacDonald captured the 63rd edition of the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, in one for the record books at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday (Aug. 20).

The $100,000 race saw Ideal Perception (Driven by Austin Sorrie) parked out by Patrikthepiranha A (Wally Hennessey) at the opening quarter 26.1 while eventual winner Sintra got away third. Ideal Perception cleared to the lead at the 54.1 half-mile marker then driver Anthony MacDonald sent Sintra to begin his first-over advance going to three-quarters in 1:22.3.

Sintra took over in the final panel and paced away to win by five-and-a-half lengths in a track record tying 1:50.1 over No Plan Intended (Jody Jamieson) and Rhodena Road (Brett MacDonald).

Jamie Smith trains Sintra for owner Thestable Sintra Group of Guelph, Ont. It was the nine-year-old gelding’s 41st career victory in 111 starts. He has earned $1,573,807.

SINTRA REPLAY

Anthony MacDonald joins three-time Gold Cup and Saucer winning driver Mark MacDonald as the third brother duo to win the East Coast Classic behind Joe and Henry Smallwood and Paul and Mike MacDonald.

Corey MacPherson had a driving triple on the card winning with Frontier Cruise (Sunshine Beach, 1:55) for J.C. Belliveau, Soccer Hanover (Dragon Again, 1:54.1) from the Leith Waite barn and with Stash It Away (Pang Shui) in a $18,750 Joe O’Brien Gold division for three-year-old colt pacers in 1:54.3.

Dreamfair Zenfire (Sunfire Blue Chip) won the $8,000 Birthplace Of Confederation Series, presented by the City of Charlottetown in Memory of Lloyd Palmer, in line to trainer Marc Campbell in 1:53.2 for owners Ryan and Everett MacLeod of Souris.

Bugsy Maguire (Bettors Delight) and Austin Sorrie won the $6,000 Premier’s Pace in 1:52.3 for trainer Wade Sorrie and owner Walter Simmons of Summerside.

Campbell won the Francis McIsaac Memorial award for top driver of Old Home Week.

Mike McGuigan was the recipient of the Earl Smith Memorial Award for leading trainer of Old Home Week and also won the top percentage driver award.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores