CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer was the main event of Saturday evening’s final card of Old Home Week 2019 but there was lots of speed all evening at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Bugsy Maguire scored a mild upset in the $10,000 birthplace of confederation series final, in memory of Brian Andrew, as Race 12 of the 14-dash card. Austin Sorrie supplied the winning steer for trainer Wade Sorrie and owner Walter Simmons of Summerside.
Euchred (Jody Jamieson) cut the fractions to finish second with Woodmere Ideal Art (Todd Trites) third.
Sodwana Bay prevailed in the $6,250 fillies and mares open pace in a 1:55.2 mile for trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau over Traces Of Purple (Marc Campbell) and West River Ambyr (Steven Shepherd). Wayne MacRae of Fall River, N.S., and Howmac Farms Ltd., of North Wiltshire, hold the ownership papers of Sodwana Bay.
Barrieau scored four wins on the championship program as he also won with Red Dirt Boomer in 1:56.1 in the $17,500 Joe O’Brien memorial gold division for three-year-old pacing colts. Barrieau trains the Malicious colt for Daniel Ross of Belfast.
Barrieau’s other wins came with Bettim Vicky in the $3,000 minister of finance pace stopping the clock in 1:56 for trainer Jeff Lilley of Miltonvale Park, and with Noudidnt Blue Chip in 1:53.4 for trainer Neal Moase of Warren Grove.
Moase had a pair of wins on the program as new acquisition Craven The Beach won the $5,900 Alpine claiming series final in 1:57.1 in line to Simon Allard.
Majian Tango was placed first in the $3,500 Colonel Dan open trot for trainer-driver Jim Ripley and owner Marylea Ripley of Amherst, N.S. Freddie (Campbell) won the class by five lengths in 1:58 but was placed back for interfering on Daisy River (Paul Lanigan) in the first-half of the race. The amended time was 1:59 with Freddie placed to fifth.
Campbell won the Francis McIsaac memorial award for top driver of Old Home Week while Chucker’s Trophies and Awards top percentage driver of the week was Jody Jamieson, who also had a driving triple on the program.
Total wager on the Saturday evening card was $307,134.
Related links:
• Rock Diamonds N wins The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer in 1:51.4
• The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer shaping up to be a dandy
• FIDDLER'S FACTS: Dreams can come true
• GOLD CUP AND SAUCER: Timing is everything
• DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH: Plenty to be proud of
• FIDDLER'S FACTS: Who's here for Old Home Week
• Sir Pugsley wins The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer Trial 2
• Midway Island wins The Guardian Gold Cup & Saucer Trial 1
Nicholas Oakes is covering harness racing at Old Home Week for The Guardian, culminating with the Gold Cup and Saucer on Saturday. This is his 10th year covering Old Home Week for the news outlet.
