Canada’s top harness racing driver, James MacDonald, took centre stage on Saturday, August 10, at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, sweeping the first two Gold Cup and Saucer Trials.
In the first trial, Save America, driven by MacDonald and sired by Captaintreacherous, showed early speed from post 5, securing the lead before handing it over to Binge On Yankee (Jody Jamieson) at the opening quarter in 27.2 seconds on a track rated one second off due to sloppy conditions. At the half-mile mark, Save America retook the lead and never looked back, hitting three-quarters in 1:25.2 and cruising to a five-and-three-quarter length victory in 1:52.1. Jamie Smith trains Save America for TheStable Save America of Guelph, Ontario.
Binge On Yankee finished second, with American History (Dale Spence) taking third. These three will advance to the Gold Cup and Saucer Final, set for August 17 and presented by Atlantic Lottery, with a $100,000 purse.
The fourth to sixth finishers (Bee Two Bee, PL Ozzy, and One Eight Hundred) will compete in the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation on August 16. The seventh to ninth-place finishers (Bayfield Beach, Fern Hill General, and Hes Sure Good) will participate in the $15,000 PEIHRIA Invitational on August 17.
In the second trial, Fortify, a Sweet Lou gelding driven by MacDonald, utilized the pocket trip to secure a 1:52.2 victory for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Daniel Gaudreault and Ecuries Macguire Inc., of Quebec. Defending champion Covered Bridge (Jody Jamieson) led the race with fractions of 27.2, 56, and 1:24.3 but finished second, while Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) claimed the final spot in the $100,000 final with a third-place finish.
Bounty Hunter, Blue Hunt, and Saulsbrook Ian will move to the MacGregor consolation, with Ilikemebettor A and Roll Em joining the PEIHRIA Invitational.