Gold Cup hopefuls ready for tune up

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The 63^rd edition of the Gold Cup and Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery,  is right around the corner and a caveat of top harness racing pacers have all ready made their way to P.E.I. as they tune up Saturday evening (Aug 6) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The capital oval has 13-dashes planned for a 6:30 P.M. start time on Saturday with the race 12 preferred pace full of Gold Cup and Saucer contenders.

The $3,500 class will see Governor’s Plate Champion No Plan Intended (Up The Credit) leaving from post 4 riding a two-race win streak from the Colin Johnson barn for owners Carl Jamieson of Ontario and Brian Paquet of Quebec. The Up The Credit pacer put himself over $100,000 in seasonal earnings in his Governor’s Plate victory.

Lovemyrockinbird comes in from the preferred class at Rideau Carleton Raceway outside of Ottawa with post 3 in Saturday’s bout with Jason Hughes at the lines for trainer Victor Puddy with six wins this season including a 1:51.4 best over the five-eighths Rideau track.

Ys Mathis (Sportswriter) makes his Island debut for trainer-driver Marc Campbell with post 7 with the winner of 14 races and $402,202 coming to the Island from the Ohio racing circuit where he was under the tutelage of trainer Ron Burke.

Island Beach Boy (Somebeachsomewhere) holds down post 2 for trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau after winning his latest in 1:53.2 while Twin B Tuffenuff (Rock N Roll Heaven) has Kenny Arsenault driving for trainer Ron Matheson looking for redemption after making a break in last month’s Governor’s Plate final. Also in the field are Rose Run Quest (If I Can Dream, to be driven by Adam Merner) and Mc Pat (Ken Murphy).

The Post Time Pick’s have No Plan Intended selected on top.

“The last time we saw No Plan Intended was winning the Governor’s Plate in Summerside. Now he draws the mid pack and is tuning up for the Gold Cup & Saucer so don’t be shocked if he scores a natural hat trick.”

Race 9 will see another Gold Cup and Saucer hopeful in Laughagain Hanover (McArdle) as the 10-time winner has post 6 in the $3,150 dash. Teesha Symes is back on the East Coast as the Springhill, N.S., native looks for her first Gold Cup and Saucer trophy. Her hopes will rest with the Don MacRae owned four-year-old son of McArdle with Hughes committed to drive the pacer who also hailed from the Ohio wing of the Burke barn.

Catch all the action live at the track or watch the star studded card online click here. Online wagering is available at HPIBet.com.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores