Strong pacers at Charlottetown for Gold Cup preps

With the first trials of the Gold Cup and Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, just a week away, some heavy hitters from Central Canada make their way to Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday (Aug. 3) during Wilbur and Pauline MacDonald Memorial Night. The MacDonald family also increased the purses on the program as a show of support to the PEI Harness Racing Industry.

The capital oval shifts back to a 6 P.M. opening post time for Saturday.

The $4,450 Preferred Pace has Gold Cup and Saucer hopeful Blue Hunt (Hunstville) leaving from post 5 in race 9 of the program. Owned by Daguet Racing of Pennsylvania, Stephen Klunowski of Ontario and Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I., the four-year-old raced his last start at the Preferred level at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario in the Jodie Cullen stable. Ashley Gamester now trains the nine-time winner with Jason Hughes in the driver’s seat.

Stablemate Bee Two Bee (To be driven by Gilles Barrieau) has post 4 after last racing in the $35,000 Governor’s Plate final.

Another horse making his return to the track after the Governor’s Plate final is post 3 starter Roll Em (Brady Sweet) from the Brent Campbell stable.

Also in the field are Batterup Hanover (Paul Langille) and First Glance (Ken Murphy).

The Post Time Picks side with Blue Hunt to get it all.

“Blue Hunt has been racing in the top class at Woodbine Mohawk Park and ships home for his Gold Cup and Saucer trial prep race tonight. I don’t think Hughes will be too aggressive because he has bigger fish to fry next week but he’s the class of this field so I’m putting him on top.”

The race 12 finale has another horse shipping in from Ontario in post 7 starter Bob Loblaw (Sunshine Beach) for co-owner and trainer Ken Middleton and co-owners David Walls, James Grant and Starting Centre Stable of Ontario. Dale Spence drives the former Ontario Sires Stakes champion. The five-year-old was a winner his last two starts with a 1:52.3 win over Grand River Raceway and a 1:52.4 victory at Georgian Downs.

Fresh off a victory in series action, Howmac Maximus will throw on his harness and try to double up against the Sunday afternoon (Aug. 4) feature at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

The Sunday program gets underway at 1 P.M., in Summerside as Howmac Maximus (Articulator) is selected to win the $3,050 feature event.

Damian MacLellan drives the five-year-old for trainer Tammy Collings and owner Brett MacDonald of Freelton, Ont. A four-time winner so far in 2024, Howmac Maximus took a new personal best last week winning a leg of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series in 1:54 flat. He has 13 top-three finishes from 15 starts this season.

Navalny (To be driven by Adam Merner) leaves from the outside post 6 in the field from the Melissa Rennie stable. Starshipzodiac is fresh off a personal best 1:57.1 victory his last start and has rail control in line to Brett Leblanc.

Also in the field are Rusty Riley (Paul Langille, Woodmere Denny (Dale Spence) and Starship Glyde (David Dowling).

The Backstretch Beat goes with Howmac Maximus on top.

“Howmac Maximus was an impressive winner in P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series action his last start as he came first-over to win in 1:54 flat. He’ll likely have to use similar tactics today but when his confidence is this high he should give another good account of himself.”

The race 12 final has Howmac Charmer (Malicious) as the morning line favourite with post 6 for driver Dowling, trainer Kyle Williams and owner Doug Williams of Ontario. The four-year-old has been nothing short of amazing all season with three wins and four seconds from just seven starts.

Former Gold Cup and Saucer champion Smooth Lou (Corey MacPherson) leaves from post 2 while newcomer Happierdaysrcomin (Jason Hughes) has post 7.

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by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores