CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Driver Dale Spence fulfilled a lifelong dream Monday evening as Casimir Richie P won The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer Trial 2 and will head into Saturday’s final as the early favourite at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Trained by Summerside native Dr. Ian Moore, Spence picked up the catch drive on the five-year-old pacer and floated off the wings to strike front past the eighth pole in Monday’s $12,500 trial.
Casimir Richie P controlled the duration of the race through fractions of 27.4, 56.1, 1:24.1 and 1:51.2. Rose Run Quest (Marc Campbell) came first-up in the final panel to finish second with Woodmere Ideal Art (David Dowling) third and Lisburn (Kenny Arsenault) grabbing the final spot for the final. They will join Time To Dance, Screen Test, Simple Kinda Man and Father Ofthe Year in the Gold Cup and Saucer final, which will take place Saturday at midnight.
“I knew Rose Run Quest would be tough and when I heard his heels hitting the ground behind me I popped the plugs and marched along,” the 28-year-old Spence said after the victory. “(Casimir Richie P) was large getting home. I warmed him up tonight and he was aware of his surroundings. Anytime a horse comes here, they breath in that Island air and they love it.”
And here’s the final pic.twitter.com/SmkeUBM6o1
— Guardian Sports (@SportsGuardian) August 18, 2020
Spence expected to be near the lead in Monday’s race but when Post 1 starter Yankee Osborne (Neil MacInnis) made a break behind the gate that sealed his decision to leave.
“That was a very unfortunate turn of events. (Yankee Osborne) is a very nice horse. I expected him to give me everything I wanted tonight. When he ran, I said, ‘Let’s get through this turn and see what goes on.’ My horse handled the turns fine tonight so I don’t expect that will change for the final.”
Winning driver Dale Spence announces he will donate his winnings to the family of Ryan Mullally.
— Dave Stewart (@DveStewart) August 18, 2020
Spence is eager to participate in the traditional Gold Cup and Saucer post parade where the lights are turned off and each horse parades under the spotlight.
“I can’t wait for the shivers to go down your spine,” Spence said. “I have been waiting for it my entire life. I have watched this race every year and you get chills watching them put the spotlight on, so I can’t wait to see how it feels when they put the spotlight on you.”
The racing community was shook by the death of Red Shores’ track maintenance specialist Ryan Mullally, 33, in a motor vehicle collision Saturday night. Spence is donating his driving fee from Casimir Richie P to Mullally’s wife and four children.
“A very tragic accident,” Spence said. “Ryan was a good guy, always had a smile on his face and loved doing his job. It’s just a shame that something like that could happen. It just goes to show you can’t take any day for granted.”
J J Powerball (Brodie MacPhee), Mach It Again (Hughes) and Yankee Osborne (Neil MacInnis) finished fifth through seventh, respectively, on Monday and will race in the James (Roach) MacGregor consolation on Friday night. They join Avatar J (Gilles Barrieau), Best To Hurst (Dowling), Freddy Bear (Adam Merner) and Euchred (Redmond Doucet), who finished outside the top four in Saturday’s Trial 1.
The post position draw for Saturday's $60,000 final goes Tuesday night.
— Nicholas Oakes is covering harness racing at Gold Cup and Saucer Week for The Guardian. This is his 11th year covering the big week for the news outlet.
CDP Results
Harness racing results from Monday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Race 1 – Chasen Cancun (D. Spence) 50.30 8.80 4.30 Kimball B (C. MacPherson) 3.10 3.20 Sharks Play (D. Dowling) 5.10.
Times: 28.4, 58, 1:28.2, 1:59.4. Also ran: Electric Syl, Preceptor, Woodmere Soul. Winning horse owned by Robert MacNeil, Saint John, N.B. Exactor 5-1 $344.40; Triactor 5-1-2 $656.20; Superfecta 5-1-2-4 $128.33.
Race 2 – Akrotiri (K. Arsenault) 2.70 2.10 2.40 Sun On The Beach (J. Hughes) 2.60 3.00 Warrawee Upside (D. Dowling) 3.40.
Times: 29, 57.4, 1:28.1, 1:57.3. Also ran: Thegreatirishsage, Windemere Danny.
Winning horse owned by David Kent, Hunter River. Exactor 5-4 $4.80; Triactor 5-4-7 $7.80; Superfecta 5-4-7-3 $10.30; DD 5-5 $66.50.
Race 3 – J J Austin (D. Spence) 31.80 13.40 8.60 Rest Assured (G. Barrieau) 3.90 2.40 J J Patrick (C. MacPherson) 2.10.
Times: 29.3, 58.3, 1:28, 1:58.1. Also ran: Whims Drop Off, Watts Of Attitude, Theycallmedude, Woodmere Rollhario. Winning horse owned by Randy Phillips, New Brunswick; and Matthew Phillips, Alberta. Exactor 4-1 $135.40; Triactor 4-1-2 $157.90; Suprefecta 4-1-2-6 $497.
Race 4 – Miss Sangria (A. Merner) 5.20 2.30 2.10 Mrs Dragonfire (D. Dowling) 2.10 2.10 Charmbo Detistiny (G. Barrieau) 2.40.
Times: 29.1, 58.2, 1:27.1, 1:55.4. Also ran: Charlottes Western, Jens Credit, Rocknrols Image, Scoot Out Of Here. Winning horse owned by Alex MacPhee, Clyde River. Exactor 3-4 $7.30; Triactor 3-4-6 $45.70; Superfecta 3-4-6-1 $65.20.
Race 5 – Egamer (K. Arsenault) 4.90 2.40 2.20; Notyourtypicalman (D. Dowling) 3.00 2.30; Maliciousdelicious (Ma. Campbell) 3.50.
Times: 28.2, 58.2, 1:29.1, 1:58.4. Also ran: Red Dirt Fulofhart, Krispy Krunch, The Fox, Tasteslikeanother. Winning horse owned by Garth and Hailey Cole, Kensington. Exactor 5-3 $11.20; Triactor 5-3-4 $105.40; Superfecta 5-3-4-7 $176.
Race 6 – Brief Interlude (R. Doucet) 5.50 2.90 2.20; What A Babe (Bro. MacPhee) 4.90 2.50; Khitam Image (D. Spence) 2.10.
Times: 29.1, 59.1, 1:29.1, 1:58.1. Also ran: Bad Silver, Southern Heart, Shy Artie, A Fiesty X Ample. Winning horse owned by Walter Walker and Gary Gillis, Nova Scotia. Exactor 6-1 $33.20; Triactor 6-1-3 $57.50; Superfecta 6-1-3-4 $105.75.
Race 7 – Woodmere Rollnpop (M.C. MacDonald) 9.10 3.80 2.50; Windemere Frank (D. Dowling) 2.50 2.10; Windemere Ryan (A. Merner) 2.40.
Times: 28.3, 57.4, 1:27.2, 1:55.4. Also ran: Here Comes Red, Little Manny, Saulsbrook Rocky, Oceanview Lucky. Winning horse owned by Morah Kerr and Phonsie MacEachern, Nova Scotia. Exactor 3-5 $25; Triactor 3-5-7 $39; Superfecta 3-5-7-1 $144.30.
Race 8 – Woodmere Chella (D. Spence) 6.20 2.30 3.70 Sophist (D. Dowling) 23.70 12.10 Lyons Jennielee (C. MacPherson) 5.60.
Times: 27.4, 56.1, 1:25.2, 1:54.2. Also ran: Dreamfair Zenfire, Sodwana Bay, Better Be In Love, Traces Of Purple, Collective Wisdom. Winning horse owned by Valleygrove Farms, Kensington. Exactor 4-5 $63.40; Triactor 4-5-3 $459.40; Superfecta 4-5-3-6 $1642.75.
Race 9 – Tobins Rebel (G. Barrieau) 4.20 3.40 2.10; The Big Chase (A. Merner) 6.00 2.70; Harry G (P. Langille) 2.10.
Times: 28.2, 57.3, 1:26.2, 1:55.2. Also ran: Windemere Albert, Johnnie Jack, Woodmere Rollex, Mall Cop, Manlicious. Winning horse owned by Dan Ross, Belfast. Exactor 8-1 $14; Triactor 8-1-4 $35.20; Superfecta 8-1-4-2 $72.60.
Race 10 – Casimir Richie P (D. Spence) 2.50 2.10 2.10; Rose Run Quest (Ma Campbell) 2.30 2.60; Woodmere Ideal Art (D. Dowling) 8.90.
Times: 27.4, 56.1, 1:24.1, 1:51.2. Also ran: Lisburn, J J Powerball, Mach It Again, Yankee Osborne. Winning horse owned by Dr. Ian Moore and Michael Goldberg, Ontario. Exactor 3-7 $6.50; Triactor 3-7-2 $63.60; Superfecta 3-7-2-4 $70.75; DD 8-3 $4.40.
Wager – $77,849.
