The biggest week in Atlantic Canadian harness racing had a very different feel this year, but it ended in triumph for a pair of lifelong friends.
Time To Dance captured The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer $60,000 purse in the final race of Gold Cup and Saucer week 2020 for good friends Marc and Brent Campbell.
Claimed for just $18,750 in January in Ontario, Time To Dance had an incredible trip in the final. The son of A Rocknroll Dance was launched to the lead in 26.2, one of the fastest opening quarters ever in Eastern Canada, and still hung around at the end to finish strong in 1:51.4. Time To Dance is the first Island-owned horse to win the Gold Cup and Saucer since Pownal Bay Matt in 2008.
The first Island-bred horse to be in the race since Country Estate in 2008 was Woodmere Ideal Art, who finished a game third for driver David Dowling and trainer Sifroi Melanson.
After the race, the ownerships connections of Time To Dance made a $1,000 donation to the family of the late Ryan Mullally. In a tragedy that shook the racing community, Mullally was involved in a motorcycle accident that took his life on Aug. 15. Known at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP) as a hard-working member of the track maintenance team,
Mullally always had a smile on his face and was willing to help. I count myself fortunate to have known the gentleman.
There are a number of fundraisers on the go to benefit, Mullally’s wife, Allana, and their four children, including a Gofundme page titled In Memory of Ryan Mullally and a silent auction on Facebook with a number of items donated from the harness racing community.
Gold Cup Week
It was fantastic racing all week with some track record performances.
Saulsbrook Ocean became the fastest sophomore filly in the history of Atlantic harness racing in with a 1:54.1 victory for driver Dale Spence and trainer Joe Baxter in Atlantic Sires Stakes action.
Woodmere Stealdeal became the fastest two-year-old pacing colt in East Coast history in a race where he had every excuse to get beaten. He prevailed in the dash full of tight racing in 1:55.1 with Marc Campbell aboard the Danny Romo trainee.
Hop Up was crowned the fastest Maritime-bred trot mare ever on the Eastern Seaboard with a 1:57.4 victory, but it was Mile Hill Willie that eclipsed that record twice more during the week.
He had two major victories on the week, including a 1:56.3 track-record equalling performance on Gold Cup night to make him the quickest Maritime-bred trotter to ever set foot on the East Coast.
Across the Continent
The $1-million Pepsi North America Cup goes Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and Summerside native Dr. Ian Moore will send a pair of starters to the gate in the rich race. His entries are Denali Seelster (Trevor Henry) and Tattoo Artist (Bob McClure).
Kingston native James MacDonald just returned to the race bike after an accident on Aug. 1 and will drive Post 9 starter Captain Barbossa in the North America Cup from the Tony Alagna barn.
Mark MacDonald, James’ older brother, just hit a career milestone in the U.S. as the driver surpassed $100 million in career driving earnings.
P.E.I. Scene
My wishes for a swift recovery go out to a pair of Island horsemen.
Neal Moase, the claiming king of Warren Grove, has had some recent health troubles, and Charlottetown trainer Ron Matheson was injured before the races last Friday at the CDP. Get better soon guys.
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
