On Saturday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino in the Charlottetown Driving Park, the ink on the first two The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer harness racing trials had dried.
After taking a two-hole ride and stopping the clock in 1:52.3 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owners Brent Campbell and Matt McDonald, defending champion Time To Dance (A Rocknroll Dance) won the first $12,500 trial.
Day Delight (driven by Walter Cheverie) came in second, while pacesetter Evenwood Sonofagun (driven by Gilles Barrieau) finished third to qualify for the prestigious final.
The $20,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation will be advance by Bugsy Maguire, Sir Pugsley, and Blood Money.
Ideal Perception (American Ideal) lead at every call to win the second $12,500 Trial in 1:51.1 in line to Barrieau for trainer Anthony Beaton and owner SSG Stable of New York. Rock Lights (Jason Hughes) finished second, while Richard Simard’s Racemup finished third.
The MacGregor consolation will include Avatar J, Mikey Camden, and Rose Run Quest.
With his 1:51.4 victory in line to trainer Paul Langille in race 2 of the day, Batterup Hanover set a new track record for the fastest three-year-old pacing colt in the history of Island and Atlantic Canadian harness racing.
With a 1:52.3 score for trainer-driver Campbell in her $3,500 Birthplace Of Confederation series elimination for aged pacing mares, Dreamfair Zenfire broke Ladylike’s previous 1:53.2 record. The other Birthplace Of Confederation elimination was won by Filly Forty Seven (Hughes) in 1:55.
Campbell got three wins from his own barn on the evening, including a win with Eagle Jolt in 1:55.1 for the 14-year-old pacer’s 70th lifetime win.
