The final three spots for the $60,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final will be filled tonight as Trial 3 highlights the evening card at the Charlottetown Driving Park with a 7 p.m. post time.
Western Ace will leave off the rail with Mike Stevenson in the bike for trainer George Teague. This will be that combination’s final shot at making the final with one of their entries as Im Gorgeous and Southwind Lynx have both fallen short in their trials. Western Ace is a winner of $1.9 million and has four wins so far, including a 1:52.1 victory over Vernon Downs in New York.
Post 2 has Pontiac Luck with driver Doug McNair in the bike for trainer Jean Louis Arsenault. The son of Northern Luck is a recent purchase by David Shea and David Lumsden of Ontario, who both have owned Gold Cup and Saucer trial winners. Pontiac Luck recently won in 1:52.4 over Grand River Raceway in Ontario.
Joseph Michael leaves from Post 3 for driver Todd Trites and trainer Eric Wilson. The Jennas Beach Boy four-year-old won the Cecil Ladner Memorial final in 1:55.3 at Charlottetown this past June.
Post 4 has Strand Hanover for driver Simon Allard and trainer Rene Allard. The son of Modern Art has three wins from 17 starts this year, and $139,920 in earnings. His last parimutuel start on a half-mile track was a 1:55.3 victory over Flamboro Downs last December.
Formal Affair has Post 5 for trainer Dave Rose and driver Mark Bradley. The six-year-old son of Real Desire has won three of five starts this year, including a 1:55.1 victory over a sloppy Truro Raceway. He is owned by Dale and Ronnie Rennie of Elmsdale.
Post 6 has Ontario invader Blissfull Breeze for trainer Dean Nixon, who trains Trial 1 winner Fleet Sensation. The son of Blissfull Hall has seven wins from 22 starts, and has won his last two in the preferred at Grand River Raceway. Mark MacDonald is listed to drive.
Post 7 sees 2009 Gold Cup and Saucer winner All The Weapons leave with trainer-driver Kenny Oliver. The nine-year-old Towners Big Guy gelding has three wins from 19 starts so far this year, including a 1:53.4 victory over Georgian Downs in Ontario.
Governor’s Plate winner Serious Damage has the Outside Post 8 for driver Kenny Arsenault, trainer Earl Watts, and owners Wade Peconi of Breadalbane and Ryan MacPhee of Cornwall. The Allamerican Ingot seven-year-old was a winner his second last start in the $7,000 JA Ferguson invitational at Northside Downs in N.S.
The top three finishers will join Firethorn, Part Shark, Did It Again, Fleet Sensation, Fire On The Water, and Oakmont in Saturday night’s final.
