By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – The magic of Old Home Week rolls on Saturday with two Trials of the Gold Cup and Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The top four from each trial will advance to the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer on Saturday Aug. 16 marking the 66th edition of the East Coast Classic.
Gold Cup and Saucer Trial 1 and Trial 2 will line up this Saturday during a 16-dash super card at Red Shores Charlottetown beginning at 4 P.M.
Trial 1 carries a $15,000 purse in race 13 with Its Major Major A the morning line choice from post 4 for leading Canadian driver James MacDonald, trainer Rene Bourassa and owners Daniel Gaudreault and Dr. John Bradbury. The Australian bred pacer was a winner in the Preferred-2 on July 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:48.2.
Also in the mix in Trial 1 are Malignity (PP 1, To be driven by Paul Langille), Roll Em (PP 2, Marc Campbell), Bounty Hunter (PP 3, Kenny Arsenault), Virgo (PP 5, Billy Davis Jr.), Saulsbrook Ian (PP 6, Corey MacPherson), Legion Seelster (PP 7, Jody Jamieson) and Bee Two Bee (PP 8, Jason Hughes).
Race 16 will see Trial 2 and local fans will be keeping an eye on Governor’s Plate Champion Miki Shan N (PP 5, MacPherson) for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Kap Singh Racing, Stephen Klunowski, Earl Hill Jr., and Donald MacRae. The New Zealander was a winner in all five of his Island starts.
Also vying for spots in the Aug. 16 final are Lakers Bank (PP 1, Jamieson), Fortify (PP 2, Marc Campbell), Bettor Than Spring (PP 3, Myles Heffernan Sr.), Poseidon Seelster (PP 4, MacDonald), Nuttin But Finesse (PP 6, Michael Downey), Arbitage Hanover (PP 7, Davis) and Twin B Tuffenuff (PP 8, Gilles Barrieau).
The Saturday card will also feature the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies with $17,100 A-divisions in races 2 and 10 and $6,000 B-divisions in races 4, 6 and 8 as well as the $7,500 Old Home Week Invitational Trot in race 7.
The Birthplace Of Confederation eliminations for Pacing Mares, in honor of Harris Johnston, line up in races 12 and 15. The event is presented by the City of Charlottetown.
Race 1 is the Bill & Ruth Gurney Memorial, Race 3 is the Tops To Floors Pace, Race 5 is the Allan ‘Kitten’ Livingstong and Ian ‘Cat’ Smith Memorial, Race 9 is the Mayor’s Pace, race 11 is the Claddagh Oyster House & Old Dublin Pub Pace and race 13 is the Burgoyne – Taylor Memorial Pace.
Play at the track or from home through HPIBET.COM. Download the new HPI App from the App store. For the Race Day broadcast, free race programs and more go to the new Player Portal at redshores.ca.
