The harness racing Trials for the 65th Gold Cup and Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, were drawn during a press conference at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park on Tuesday morning.
The $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final is scheduled for Saturday, August 17. Twenty-five horses are entered in the Trials, competing for the top nine spots.
The first two $15,000 Trials will take place on Saturday during the 4 P.M. program at Red Shores Charlottetown. American History, the fastest horse in New Brunswick harness racing history, has rail position in the first Trial. Trained by MacKenzie Spence and driven by Dale Spence, American History recently won the Kelti Burnett Memorial at Connell Park, Woodstock, N.B., with a time of 1:52 flat.
The second $15,000 Trial features defending champion Covered Bridge from the Jeff Gillis stable. Covered Bridge won the 2023 Gold Cup and Saucer in 1:50.3 and will race for owner Mark Ford of Campbell Hall, New York.
The third and final Trial will be held on Monday at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Charlottetown. Rocks Shining Star, trained by Jamie Smith and owned by Thestable.ca, will leave from post 1. This 16-time winner has raced at the Open level in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.
The top three finishers from each Trial will advance to the $100,000 final. The fourth through sixth-place finishers will move to the James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation on August 16, with a second consolation for the seventh, eighth, and ninth-place finishers.
Gold Cup & Saucer Trial #1 – Saturday
Post – Horse – Sire – Trainer1 – American History – (American Ideal) MacKenzie Spence2 – Fern Hill General – (Malicious) Tom Weatherbie3 – One Eight Hundred – (Somebeachsomewhere) Ellen Stevenson4 – P L Ozzy – (Sunshine Beach) Darren Smith5 – Save America – (Captaintreacherous) Jamie Smith6 – Hes Sure Good – (Hes Watching) Noah Whebby7 – Bayfield Beach – (Somebeachsomewhere) Victor Puddy8 – Binge On Yankee – (Stay Hungry) Jeff Gillis9 – Bee Two Bee – (Sunshine Beach) Ashley Gamester
Gold Cup & Saucer Trial #2 – Saturday
Post – Horse – Sire – Trainer1 – Blue Hunt – (Huntsville) Ashley Gamester2 – Bounty Hunter – (Huntsville) Kenny Arsenault3 – Fortify – (Sweet Lou) Chris MacKay4 – Ilikemebettor A – (Bettors Belight) Mike McGuigan5 – Saulsbrook Ian – (Betterthancheddar) Jamie Smith6 – Covered Bridge – () Jeff Gillis7 – Twin B Tuffenuff – (Rock N Roll Heaven) Ron Matheson8 – Roll Em – (Time To Roll) Brent Campbell
Gold Cup & Saucer Trial #3 – Monday
Post – Horse – Sire – Trainer1 – Rocks Shining Star – (Rockin Image) Jamie Smith2 – Island Beach Boy – (Somebeachsomewhere) Tom Weatherbie3 – Heaven On High N – (Rock N Roll Heaven) Jamie Smith4 – Bob Loblaw – (Sunshine Beach) Ken Middleton5 – Southwind Sambucca – (American Ideal) Victor Puddy6 – Smooth Lou – (Sweet Lou) Corey MacPherson7 – High Voltage Deo – (Sweet Lou) Brendan Curran8 – Larry Karr – (A Rocknroll Dance) Dean Nixon