CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – With a confident steering by harness racing driver Dale Spence, Bob Loblaw (Sunshine Beach) was by far the best in the $30,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation race on Friday at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park.

The consolation prize for MacGregor was Bob Loblaw (Driven by Spence) pulling alertly off the inside lane to let Bounty Hunter (Kenny Arsenault) take the lead in the first quarter of 27.1. Spence wasted no time in regaining the lead before the second turn, making the half in 54.2 and then the three quarters in 1:23, with Blue Hunt (Jason Hughes) making the first charge. Bob Loblaw didn’t give an inch in the final quarter to win by two lengths from Blue Hunt in 1:51.2, while PL Ozzy (David Dowling) charged hard to finish third.

Ken Middleton is co-owner and trainer of the winner, along with co-owners David Walls, James Grant and Starting Centre Stables of Ontario.

The 14-level program also included the Lady Slipper Stakes for three-year-old mares.

Chip Of Evil (Corey MacPherson) won the $18,500 fastest Gold division in 1:54.4 for trainer Eddy Doucette and owner Inarush Stable of Kensington. Galway Girl (Marc Campbell) was second, ahead of Woodmere Delta (Gilles Barrieau).

Starship Beauty pulled off a surprise 15-1 victory in her $18,500 Gold Division, winning in 1:55.4 for the team of rider Dowling, trainer Kyle Williams and owner Dads Without Abs of Fredericton, PEI. Rollwithitdarling (Campbell) was a head back in second place, while Fern Hill Indigo (Brodie MacPhee) came up short and had to settle for third.

Miss Dutton also turned in her career-best effort, stopping the clock in 1:55 in her $18,500 Gold Division for rider Marc Campbell and trainer Kuri White for Shoulda Been Onabeach Stb of Charlottetown. Miss Wicked (MacPherson) was second and Downtown Tonight (Adam Merner) was third.

The $9,250 Grassroots Lady Slipper divisions for second-year fillies were won by U No Peach (Arsenault) in 1:56.2 for trainer Vaughan Doyle, Czarspieceofheaven (Hughes) in 1:56.4 from the stable of Todd Weatherbee, First Filly Chip (MacPherson) in 1:57.2 as part of a White training double and Windemere Saddy (Campbell) in 1:56.1 for trainer Brent Campbell.

Marc Campbell had four wins on his program, while Hughes scored a driving triple.

Live racing continues at Red Shores Charlottetown on Saturday for the final day of Old Home Week 2024. The day begins with an afternoon presentation at 12 noon featuring the $15,000 PEI Harness Racing Industry Association Pace and the Joe O’Brien Memorial Stake for three-year-old colts.

The evening program begins at 6:00 p.m. and will be rounded off with the final of the “Gold Cup and Saucer” worth 100,000 USD, presented by the Atlantic Lottery, in race 14.

The complete race results can be found Click here.

from Nicholas Oakesfor Red Shores