CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The 2018 edition of the coveted The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer could be another thriller with just about every horse in the field capable of victory in what is one of the major races of the year on the North American harness racing calendar.
While most of the attention will focus on the first two finishers in Trial 1, winner Somewhere Fancy and Rockin In Heaven, plus the 1-2 horses from Trial 2, Bet on Brett and Lincolnjames, the other horses have a shot. Their chances improve dramatically if the expected rains turn the track into a heavy, sloppy track, conditions for an upset as was the case last year when Shadow Place surprised all of us. It could happen again, but it’s wise to remember what the railbirds often chirped, “anything can happen” in a horse race.
Let’s take a closer look at the field, from the rail out:
1. Rockin In Heaven
This horse beat the top class at Mohawk recently and that’s big-time class. He had tons left in Trial 1 and I doubt driver Jay Harris will allow the front end to coast like they did last Saturday night. The best horse has the rail but on an off or sloppy track previous form can be compromised. The horse is trained by Teesha Symes for Nova Scotia co-owners Doug Polley of Amherst and Gordon McComb of Fall River.
2. Rose Run Quest
The best of the Maritime-based horses has won four of his last five outings, including a 1:53:4 change score in Bible Hill, N.S. He gets the region’s top driver in Marc Campbell and this horse will be looking for more than a small piece of the $60,000 purse. A sloppy track could make it happen, but this is a huge step up in class. He is trained by Bo Ford for owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown.
3. Asap Hanover
Asap Hanover was rough gaited on both bends and Jody Jamieson did a nice job of holding him together in the trial. Trainer Stephanie Jamieson will likely make shoeing changes and I expect he’ll be much, much better tonight. The owner is John Mehlenbacker of Oakville, Ont.
4. Bet on Brett
The Trial 2 winner had been racing two or three classes lower than the rail horse at Mohawk but his recent 1:50:1 score there makes him dangerous. The trainer-driver duo of Rene Allard and Louis Philippe Roy makes this horse even more likeable. He is co-owned by Don and Steven MacRae, Red Isle Racing and Allard Racing and if he gets things his own way, as he did in his elimination, he could repeat.
5. Always N the Money
He equalled his lifetime best of 1.51 in beating horses like Nickle Bag and Bet on Brett at Mohawk for owner-trainer Jodie Cullen of Dundas, Ont., with Travis Cullen in the bike, so he has a “puncher’s chance.” I wouldn’t write him off, especially on a possible off-track.
6. Somewhere Fancy
This horse has the outside six-hole for the aggressive and talented driver Simon Allard, who is no stranger to swift opening quarters. This horse has raced the $44,000 open class at Yonkers, New York, and beaten the $14,000 open at Syracuse, N.Y., so there’s lots to like. He is the only horse with $100,000-plus in the bank this season and looks the best of the Allard duo in this race.
7. Fool Me Once
Trainer Patrick Shepherd has brother Robert Shepherd in the bike and this duo has been hot in Ontario. This horse has a record of 1:48:1 and already has banked more than $1 million in his career. He’s raced the likes of McWicked this season and was a close third to Rockin In Heaven a few starts ago, so he has plenty of class. He is owned by Carl Kuepler and Patrick Shepherd of Ontario.
8. Lincoln James
This horse raced huge in Trial 2, out from before the half and game to the very end to winner Bet on Brett. He’s won recently in 1:50:2 but he has the dreaded outside post. My son, Anthony MacDonald, has also been known to hustle them out of there but with blistering speed inside, A Mac is in a difficult spot. Jamie Smith trains this fellow for The Stable.Ca and local ownership group of Wayne Fudge, Larry Chappell, Kent Maclaren, Jason Rice, David MacDonald, Joe MacDougal, Judy Profit, Greg Stymest, Bruce Gaum, Shane Ryan, Harvey Timmons, Elaine Orr, Jim Quinn, Mike Arnold and Dianne Crossman. Like others in here, he needs a perfect trip.
It is great to see Meadowlands broadcasting anchor Ken Warkentin back with us for a fifth straight Gold Cup and Saucer. Also arriving yesterday was Greg Blanchard, who assisted with the Meadowlands Hambletonian broadcast. He’s also director of racing at Western Fair.
Also among the big crowd yesterday were prominent faces from the past like Woodbine top jockey from the 1960s and 1970s Lloyd Duffy and the former United States Trotting Association (USTA) director for P.E.I., Paul MacKinnon from Clyde River. As always, let’s hope for a great race and a safe journey for all.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
