With a hard rush at the end of the mile, Covered Bridge captured the 64th edition of the Atlantic Lottery Gold Cup and Saucer in front of 25,000 fans in the early moments of Sunday, Aug. 20 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The $100,000 East Coast Classic had American History (Dale Spence) leave hard to the front and hit fractions of :26.1 and :53.4 on the lead. Funatthebeach N (Scott Young) came calling first over and struck the front past three-quarters of 1:22.4 but Covered Bridge (Jordan Stratton) shook off cover to track down that leader in the stretch to win in 1:50.3. Funatthebeach N was second for a stone cold exactor from trainer Jeff Gillis and owner Mark Ford of New York. PL Ozzy (Jody Jamieson) was third.
Stratton took his time bringing Covered Bridge back to the winner's circle, taking photos with fans along the rail while clearly enjoying his first Gold Cup & Saucer experience.
"First of all, thanks to everybody for coming out," he said. "It's very electrifying and it's a great thing for harness racing to see all the spectators and all the fans. I wish this was like every track."
Covered Bridge became harness racing's newest millionaire with the victory, as the seven-year-old son of American Ideal-Stonebridge Kisses now sports $1,035,140 in earnings.
The 14-dash card had a new all-time record handle at Red Shores Charlottetown of $647,556, eclipsing the former record set in 1994.
Acefortyfour Dome won the $12,500 Birthplace Of Confederation fillies and mares final, in honour of Don and Ian Smith while presented by the City of Charlottetown, in 1:54 at 29-1 odds for trainer-driver Jason Hughes and owner Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I.
Time To Dance was the best in the $7,500 Premier's Pace in 1:53.2 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell.
The $20,700 Joe O'Brien Gold divisions for three-year-old pacing colts were won by Fishermans Son (Campbell) in 1:55.4 and Malignity (Paul Langille) in 1:54.
In the $7,500 Colonel Dan Old Home Week Trot, presented by Fox Group, New Legacy was on top in 1:57.4 for trainer Colin Johnson and driver Adam Merner, who scored a driving triple.
Melissa Rennie won the Earl Smith Memorial Award for top trainer of Old Home Week.
The Francis McIsaac Memorial Award for top driver of Old Home Week went to multiple time winner Campbell.
Brodie MacPhee topped the charts for the top percentage driver of the week.
The full replay from Saturday evening's card of harness racing — including the announcement of the O'Brien Awards returning to Prince Edward Island in 2024 — appears below.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
Monctonian Pace To Revenant
Revenant stormed home for victory Saturday afternoon in The Monctonian Pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino on the first half of a doubleheader program to end off Old Home Week 2023.
Corey MacPherson steered the Melissa Rennie trainee to a hard-closing 1:55.4 victory in the $4,000 event for owners Kyla MacDonald and Tyler and Colby Lynk. Midnight Mood (Ken Murphy) was second ahead of Smart Official (Jason Hughes).
The program also featured a pair of $10,350 Joe O'Brien Grassroots divisions for three-year-old colt pacers won by Redland Sampson (Murphy) in 1:57.2 and Starship Art (Patrick Shepherd) in 1:58.2.
The P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series had two $4,200 divisions for horses and geldings, presented by Kays Wholesale. They were won by Pictonian I Am (Murphy) in 1:56 and Woodmere Sheldon (Hughes) with a 1:55.1 clocking.
The lone $4,200 P.E.I. Colt Stakes Graduate Series division for fillies and mares, presented by JD Marine and Diving Inc., was won by Outrageous Style (Gilles Barrieau) with a commanding 1:54.2 performance.
For results from the Saturday afternoon card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Red Shores Charlottetown.
(with files from Red Shores)
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge received 6 votes in Tuesday's Top Ten Poll, which if it was a Top Twentyfive Poll, would put him in a tie for 21st. I think this is the first time that a horse that won The GC&S received votes in the previous Top Ten Poll.