CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — After a tough first quarter, Time To Dance hung on for the duration to win Trial 1 of The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer Saturday night at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Marc Campbell was in the driver’s seat behind Time To Dance in the $12,500 trial and left smartly from Post 2 to power past rail-sitter Father Ofthe Year (Mike Downey) at the 27.2 first-quarter.
The half was reached in 54.3 with Time To Dance then electing to let Simple Kinda Man (Jason Hughes) claim the front before the third turn with the three-quarters hit in 1:23.1.
Time To Dance swelled in the two-hole and made short work of his foes up the passing lane in the stretch drive to win the race in 1:52.4. Screen Test (Corey MacPherson) finished second while Simple Kinda Man hung on for third and Father Ofthe Year was fourth to earn a spot in next Saturday’s $60,000 final. The remaining four spots in the final will be determined Monday in Trial 2.
Campbell saw everything unfold similar to how he thought when the draw was finalized but with Father Ofthe Year playing the wild card.
“I thought I’d spring to the lead and release Jason early,” the Winsloe driver said. “In an elimination race you don’t want to take any chances. Mike (Downey) did exactly what I thought he would do, he stretched me out. It worked out for him – he made the final, good for those guys. I had a good horse for him to follow, he has just been getting better and better.”
And here’s the finish pic.twitter.com/zLUK8bSxqR
— Guardian Sports (@SportsGuardian) August 16, 2020
Time To Dance is owned by Campbell’s longtime friend Brent Campbell of Charlottetown, along with Matt McDonald of Edwards, Ont.
“Brent and I have a lot of fun together, we always have,” the driver said. “And his dad Richard is at the barn every day bringing us coffee at the farm, jogging some horses and getting chased by coyotes and stuff. It’s been a good ride. It’s been easy going, not a whole lot of pressure from them.”
Campbell has won the Gold Cup twice before with Pennsylvania ship-ins Take It Back Terry (2015) and Escape The News (2013) from the Ron Burke stable. To have a top contender from his own barn in a field of nearly all Maritime-bred horses brings another layer to this year’s final, he says. Campbell will also drive trainee Rose Run Quest with Post 7 in Monday’s Trial 2.
“It’s pretty cool,” Campbell said of winning the trial from his own barn. “I hope Rose Run Quest makes it too, but with the seven-hole you never know what could happen in these races. But we won this one and they can’t take it away from us.”
Avatar J, Best To Hurst, Freddy Bear and Euchred finished fifth to eighth, respectively, Saturday and will go to the consolation.
– 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 Saturday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Evening
Race 1 – MyAmbrose (K. Murphy) 31.70 14.60 10.20; Western Bandit (M. Campbell) 8.50 3.20; Gringo Star (G. Barrieau) 2.10.
Times: 29.1, 59.1, 1:29.1, 1:58.1. Also Ran: Lincoln Seelster, Give Em Heck, Rash B Havior, Giant Slayer. Winning horse owned by Carl and Jason MacDougall, P.E.I. Exactor 3-5 $224.40; Triactor 3-5-2 $781.40; Superfecta 3-5-2-1 $780.10.
Race 2 – Silverhill Buddy (D. Dowling) 6.30 3.10 3.30; Buttons (M. Campbell) 7.60 4.00; Spack Jarrow (C. MacPherson) 3.30.
Times: 28.1, 56.1, 1:26.2, 1:55.4. Also Ran: Pictonian Storm, Dragon Teeth, Complete Player, SeeTheLightsNGo, Ramset. Winning horse owned by Joanne Macrae, David Myers and Gwyneth McGuirk, P.E.I. Exactor 7-1 $32.40; Triactor 7-1-5 $192.30; Superfecta 7-1-5-3 $160.75.
Race 3 – J K Express (J. Hughes) 3.80 2.40 2.20; Emperor (C. MacPherson) 19.70 12.60; Melanies Magic (D. Spence) 3.40.
Times: 27.4, 56.3, 1:26, 1:54.3. Also Ran: Winter Blast, Crafty Xample, Mayhem Man, Mittcent Van Gogh, Dividend Day. Winning horse owned by James Perrot, P.E.I. Exactor 3-2 $65.50; Triactor 3-2-1 $131.50; Superfecta 3-2-1-6 $123.25.
Race 4 – Jeb (J. Hughes) 6.10 2.70 2.90; Pillage And Burn (B. MacPhee) 14.40 4.60; Bugger Max (D. Spence) 2.50.
Times: 28.1, 57.3, 1:27.1, 1:56.2. Also Ran: Heart And Soul, Ashes To Ashes, Jetster. Winning horse owned by Robi Hughes, Blair and Eric MacLauchlan, P.E.I. Exactor 4-6 $106.80; Triactor 4-6-1 $300.60.
Race 5 – Bank Shot Hanover (J. Hughes) 3.40 3.30 2.30; Toxicity (A. Merner) 5.00 3.10; Tobinator (C. MacPherson) 3.30.
Times: 28.4, 58.2, 1:28, 1:57.1. Also Ran: Distinctiv Rusty, Howmacs Dragonator, Smart Official, Zack The Men, Arrived Late. Winning horse owned by Brendon Mullen, Dean Lewis and Josh O’Hanley, P.E.I. Exactor 1-5 $23.00; Triactor 1-5-3 $87.20; Superfecta 1-5-3-8 $483.90.
Race 6 – Rockin Indy (C. MacPherson) 9.80 3.20 2.60; Three Truths (B. MacPhee) 5.70 2.70; Mantario (K. Arsenault) 2.60.
Times: 28.0, 57.4, 1:27.1, 1:54.4. Also Ran: I C True Grit, Power Of A Cruiser, Legendary Ron, Phil Dorleans. Winning horse owned by Troy Murray, P.E.I. Exactor 4-1 $40.30; Triactor 4-1-2 $129.30; Superfecta 4-1-2-6 $201.50.
Race 7 – Intended Royalty (R. Doucet) 4.60 2.90 3.40; Mick Dundee (D. MacNeill) 4.10 3.00; Soccer Hanover (C. MacPherson) 2.40.
Times: 28.4, 57.2, 1:26.2, 1:54.2. Also Ran: Flash In The Pang, Filly Forty Seven, Mystery Phil. Winning horse owned by Randy and Ed Copley, Nova Scotia. Exactor 4-1 $13.70; Triactor 4-1-6 $77.60; Superfecta 4-1-6-2 $1,66.55.
Race 8 – Arc Light (M. Campbell) 3.30 2.80 2.10; Berazzled (D. Dowling) 5.00 4.20; Falls Creek (A. Merner) 4.10.
Times: 29.1, 58.1, 1:26.4, 1:54.4. Also Ran: Jordies Hope, Much Adoo, Misty Memory N, AshesToDiamonds, PickPocketPrincess. Winning horse owned by Grayland Farm, Nova Scotia. Exactor 1-6 $10.10; Triactor 1-6-3 $58.10; Superfecta 1-6-3-2 $270.45.
Race 9 – Zero Rate (K. Arsenault) 18.10 6.30 5.10; Sports Royalty (M. Campbell) 4.40 2.60; Bank Of Dad (B. MacPhee) 4.70.
Times: 28.4, 58.2, 1:27.4, 1:57.1. Also Ran: Lively Freddie, Dancers Pass, Smiley Bayama, Ten Mile Beach. Winning horse owned by Billy Mackinnon and Calvin Larkin, P.E.I. Exactor 2-4 $98.30; Triactor 2-4-8 $479.80; Superfecta 2-4-8-5 $151.72.
Race 10 – Time To Dance (M. Campbell) 5.40 3.60 2.20; Screen Test (C. MacPherson) 7.40 3.10; Simple Kinda Man (J. Hughes) 2.90.
Times: 27.2, 54.3, 1:23.1, 1:52.4. Also Ran: Father of the Year, Avatar J, Best To Hurst, Freddy Bear, Euchred. Winning horse owned by Brent Campbell, P.E.I., and Matt McDonald, Ontario. Exacta 2-5 $36.20; Trifecta 2-5-3 $82.80; Superfecta 2-5-3-1 $426.45.
Wager – $60,114.
****
Afternoon
Race 1 – CowgirlInTheSand (G. Barrieau) 4.60 3.40 2.60; I Can Do It (J. Hughes) 8.90 5.00; Fear The Storm (D. Dowling) 3.30.
Times: 29.2, 59.1, 1:29.3, 1:58.4. Also Ran: Yummy Spice, Tobins Angel, Rae Seelster, Articulate Lady, Miss Sinfonia. Winning horse owned by Harold Denney, New Brunswick, Andrea Rennison, Nova Scotia, Jeff Lilley and Blair Maclauchlan, P.E.I. Exactor 5-3 $28; Triactor 5-3-6 $135.90; Superfecta 5-3-6-4 $429.25.
Race 2 – Roxy Lund (J. Hughes) 13.70 3.10 2.20; WenItRainsItPours (M. Campbell) 3.40 2.10; Windemere McSeek (D. Dowling) 2.10.
Times: 29.0, 58.2, 1:28.1, 1:57.2. Also Ran: HowmacRiverCruiser, Rolandpeg. Winning horse owned by Donald MacRae, P.E.I. Exactor 4-1 $16; Triactor 4-1-5 $48.40; Superfecta 4-1-5-3 $24.05; Daily Double 5-4 $23.20.
Race 3 – Miss Dynamite D (R. Doucet) 12.80 4.60 7.10; Shes A Lover (R. Chappell) 71.70 12.30; WindmereNoHarmDone (K. Arsenault) 4.30.
Times: 29.1, 58.4, 1:29.3, 2:00.4. Also Ran: Charlottes Western, Bugtown Superstar, WindemereImAlright. Winning horse owned by Colin and Marla Macleod, Nova Scotia. Exactor 3-5 $151; Triactor 3-5-1 $162.30; Superfecta 3-5-1-6 $150.94.
Race 4 – J J Gracie (G. Barrieau) 5.70 2.70 2.10; Woodmere Harriet (D. Dowling) 2.60 2.10; Ezra Express (M. Campbell) 2.30.
Times: 29.1, 57.4, 1:27.2, 1:56.2. Also Ran: J J Kinley, Anne With An E, Camco Lissie. Winning horse owned by Stephane Boudreault, Quebec. Exactor 2-1 $7.60; Triactor 2-1-5 $14.10; Superfecta 2-1-5-3 $29.65.
Race 5 – Joes Beauty (G. Barrieau) 2.90 2.50 2.10; Howmac Blaze (C. MacPherson) 3.60 2.30; Badlands Giovanna (J. Hughes) 2.10.
Times: 29.3, 59.1, 1:28.4, 1:58.1. Also Ran: Southfield Sue, Windemere Pay Day, ToonieTina, Anzula, R ES Kate. Winning horse owned by Stephen Downey, New Brunswick. Exactor 8-7 $7; Triactor 8-7-5 $16.70; Superfecta 8-7-5-3 $74.40.
Race 6 – Woodmere Skyroller (B. MacPhee) 5.70 3.30 3.90; Red Dirt Star (G. Barrieau) 4.30 4.80; Ms Moyse (A. Merner) 7.90.
Times: 28.1, 57.4, 1:27, 1:55.4. Also Ran: Live And Let Di, Na Naa Said So, Lorne Valley Barb. Winning horse owned by Reginald MacPherson, P.E.I. Exactor 1-5 $18; Triactor 1-5-2 $125.60; Superfecta 1-5-2-3 $164.85 and 1-5-2-4 $209.70.
Race 7 – Cowboy Logic (S. Shepherd) 2.70 2.10 2.10; Howmac Magic (G. Barrieau) 2.50 2.10; Messier Seelster (M. Campbell) 2.10.
Times: 29.1, 57.1, 1:26.1, 1:55.2. Also Ran: FlowersOnTheBeach, Montrose Hope. Winning horse owned by Maurice Mccabe, Gerard Ellsworth, Harold Shepherd, and Angus Birt, P.E.I. Exactor 1-2 $5; Triactor 1-2-5 $12.20; Superfecta 1-2-5-4 $12.15.
Race 8 – Watch Me Dance (J. Hughes) 7.40 2.40 2.40; BellaForNow (C. MacDonald) 3.30 2.10; Tobins Choice (G. Barrieau) 2.20.
Times: 28.4, 58.1, 1:27.4, 1:55.4 Also Ran: Elm Grove Ocean, TheSkysTheLimit, La Vie En Rose, Woodmere Nasha. Winning horse owned by John and Stephen Quinn, P.E.I, and Ozzie MacKay, New Brunswick. Exactor 6-7 $11.80; Triactor 6-7-4 $59; Superfecta 6-7-4-3 $63.50.
Race 9 – Positive Art (C. MacPherson) 36.00 26.20 3.30; Payback (M. Campbell) 5.10 5.10; The Ironman (K. Murphy) 3.60.
Times: 28.4, 58.0, 1:28.1, 1:59.4. Also Ran: BobJohnski, Fern Hill Dynamic, Jetta Flys, Real Bigg, Bowyer Hanover. Winning horse owned by Bing Easter, P.E.I. Exactor 8-5 $220.70; Triactor 8-5-ALL $469.60.
Race 10 – Saulsbrook Ocean (D. Spence) 12.70 7.70 5.90; Dustylane Zambucca (C. MacPherson) 3.20 2.70; UBettimAGoodOne (K. Arsenault) 8.60.
Times: 28.2, 57.0, 1:25.4, 1:54.1. Also Ran: Streakazana, Woodmere Rollily, RollWithItAnnie, Gotta Love Cabot. Winning horse owned by Saulsbrook Stables, Jennifer Baxter, Michael McKenzie, Nova Scotia. Exactor 3-5 $46; Triactor 3-5-4 $268.10; Superfecta 3-5-4-2 $525.65; Daily Double 8-2 $67.80.
Wager – $40,197.
