Gold Cup and Saucer Day set for Saturday

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The biggest race of the harness racing season will parade under the spotlight in the minutes leading up to midnight Saturday as the 62nd edition of The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer heads to the track at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 13-dash program gets underway as the second half of a Saturday doubleheader at 7 P.M. with nine entries in the final race of the night for a $60,000 purse. Somewhere Fancy is the favourite in the field with rail control for driver David Dowling, trainer Chris MacKay and owner John Mehlenbacher of Oakville, Ont.

The 57-winner this meet has prevailed in his last two starts including a 1:50.4 score in Gold Cup and Saucer trial 3 and was a past winner of this race in 2018.

The field has three horses owned by P.E.I. connections with Rock Lights leaving from post 4 for driver Jason Hughes, trainer MacKay and owners D Racing Stable of New York, and Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge.

Defending champion Time To Dance has post 8 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owners Matt McDonald of Edwards, Ont., and Brent Campbell of Charlottetown. Day Delight has post 9 and is co-owned by Blaine MacPherson’s Howmac Farms of North Wiltshire along with partners Wayne MacRae of Nova Scotia and Lloyd Stone and Victory Puddy of Ontario.

Walter Cheverie will drive the horse for trainer Puddy, who has three entries in the field. Race analyst Peter MacPhee sides with post 5 entry Smooth Lou to be handed the Gold Cup and Saucer trophy. Robert Shepherd is set to drive the pacer for trainer and younger brother Patrick Shepherd.

“Smooth Lou got a perfect trip in trial three but couldn’t track down Somewhere Fancy at the wire,” MacPhee said. “It was still an excellent effort and don’t forget he closed in a snappy 26.4. He moves to post five and Robert gets the call from his bother Patrick to do the driving. This is an awesome field of horses and it will be all systems go but with Robert’s skill and Lou’s will they hit the wire first.”

Also in the field are Legion Seelster (To be driven by Richard Simard), Racemup (Brodie MacPhee), National Debt (Austin Sorrie) and Ideal Perception (Gilles Barrieau).

The evening card also features the Birthplace of Confederation Series final, presented by the City of Charlottetown in memory of Shelley and Dianne Gass, in race 12 for a $8,000 purse. The race has a full field of eight pacing mares including newly minted track record holder Dreamfair Zenfire (Campbell). The three-year-old pacing colts compete in a pair of $19,000 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold divisions in races 7 and 10. Go to Redshores.ca for live video, race programs and information on attending Gold Cup Week 2021. Wager online at HPIBet.com.

An iron tough crew of pacing mares will contest the Linda Ford Memorial on the first half of a Saturday doubleheader at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The afternoon card has a 1 P.M. opening post time with the Ford Memorial lining up in race 10 of the 12-dash presentation. Gonna Fool Ya is the top choice from post 4 in the $2,400 class for trainer-driver David Dowling and owners Brittany Watts, Rick Adams and Matt and David Burke.

The five-year-old daughter of Dream Away is a three-time winner this season. Miss Kabana will have Ontario pilot Paul MacKenzie in the bike from post 2 for co-owner and trainer Gary Poulton and co-owners Gail MacDonald and Trevor Warren.

The Post Time Picks see Peter MacPhee place Gonna Fool Ya in the win position.

“Gonna Fool Ya led for a long way last time but faded late and couldn’t deliver as the chalk choice. She moves to the mid pack and David will have her on the front foot so expect a big time bounce back.”

Also in the field are Traces Of Purple (To be driven by Jason Hughes), Dustylane Zambucca (Corey MacPherson) and Killean Finale (Ken Murphy).

The afternoon card sees the Joe O’Brien stake in action with $9,100 grassroots divisions in races 7 and 9.

Race 6 has the Milma MacLure Memorial with Hes Marvalous (Myles Heffernan Sr.) the morning line favourite from post 2. Pay Up Jack is the top choice in the race 5 Tom and Margaret Claybourne trot for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault. Paul MacKenzie will drive race favourite Magical Cowgirl in the Donnie and Nan Simmons Memorial in race 4.

The Glenn and Mary Taylor Memorial in race 2 has Zack The Men (Campbell) selected to win off his lifetime best performance his last start. Go to Redshores.ca for live video, race programs and information on attending Gold Cup Week 2021. Wager online at HPIBet.com.
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