Gritty Livinthebeachlife captured $30,000 Gold Cup and Saucer Consolation

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Parked every step of the mile, Livinthebeachlife (Somebeachsomewhere) was smiling for his harness racing photo in the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer Consolation in line to Jody Jamieson on Friday evening (Aug. 18) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. 

Over a wet track, the race saw Rockabilly Rebel N (Driven by David Dowling) protect the cones from post 1 at the start as the post time favourite before releasing Ys Mathis (Marc Campbell) to the lead. Rockabilly Rebel N then retook the lead past the 27.1 opening quarter while eventual winner Livinthebeachlife was parked out in eighth. The half was struck in 56 seconds with Livinthebeachlife edging forward on the outside to fifth while still not seeing any pylons.

Three-quarters went down in 1:24.2 as the pacesetting Rockabilly Rebel N fought off the first-over advance of Repeal Or Replace (Myles Heffernan Sr) and Livinthebeachlife was up into contention tipping three-wide. As the field turned for home, Livinthebeachlife was toe-to-toe with Rockabilly Rebel N as he surged past to victory in 1:53.4.

No Plan Intended (Jason Hughes) closed for second with Rockabilly Rebel N finishing third. 

Victor Puddy trains Livinthebeachlife for owners Christopher Boland, Limco Inc., and Gordon McDonald. 

The program also had the Lady Slipper stake for three-year-old pacing fillies. 

Redlandbethanyjean (Artspeak) won her $17,200 Gold division in 1:57.4 in her return to her native P.E.I. Brodie MacPhee was in the bike for trainer Tom Weatherbie and owner Redland Farms of Bible Hill, N.S. 

Woodmere Jade (Rollwithitharry) won another Gold division in 1:58.2 for driver Heffernan Sr., trainer Myles Heffernan Jr., and owner Jackie Heffernan. 

Singing Ramona (Sportswriter) clicked in her $17,200 Gold assignment with a 1:57.4 win in line to James MacDonald for co-owner and trainer Jamie Smith and co-owner Hubert (Socke) MacDonald of Charlottetown. 

The $8,600 Grassroots divisions for sophomore pacing fillies were won by Tobins Future (Jaycob Sweet) in 2:00.2, Georgia Thompson (Adam Merner) in 1:56.4 and Onlythegooddiyoung (Gilles Barrieau) with a 1:58.2 score. 

Live racing continues Saturday with a doubleheader program seeing cards at 1 P.M. and 7 P.M., featuring the $100,000 Atlantic Lottery Gold Cup and Saucer final in the final race of the day. 

For more go to Redshores.ca. 

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores