Charlottetown, PE – The biggest race on Canada’s Eastern Seaboard goes to the gate Saturday evening (Aug. 22) with the C$100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final, and defending champion driver Corey MacPherson says anyone who thinks they know what will transpire is simply guessing in a race where anything can happen.
The 15-dash card gets underway at 5 p.m. as part of a Saturday doubleheader at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, with the big race going as the finale to end Old Home Week 2026.
The 67th Gold Cup and Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, has nine pacers lining up behind the starting gate in race 15.
MacPherson will attempt to defend his title with Miki Shan N from post 8 for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Kap Singh Racing Stable of New York, Stephen Klunowski and Earl Hill Jr. of Ontario and Donald MacRae of P.E.I.
The 7-year-old son of Always B Miki followed Ammo throughout his trial before prevailing by a quarter-length in 1:51.2.
“What you think will happen and what actually happens are usually two different things,” MacPherson said. “You would think the inside four should all go forward off the gate, but they can’t all make the front, so there are going to be hot fractions.”
MacPherson won the 2025 final from off-the-pace and will again search for the right horse to follow.
“I really have to go out of the eight-hole and find the right cover like I did last year,” MacPherson said. “Hopefully, we can pick up some tired pieces.”
The defending champion has been installed at 8-1 on the morning line, with MacPherson pointing to rail starter Sugar Man as the horse to beat.
“Sugar Man was pretty impressive,” MacPherson said. “He was strong off hot fractions. If he gets his way at all, I think he’s very live.”
Sugar Man is the 5-2 morning-line favorite from post 1 for driver Doug McNair and trainer Mark McKinnon. Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, PA, owns the 4-year-old son of Papi Rob Hanover.
Sugar Man controlled his trial through fractions of :26.2, :55 and 1:23 before closing in 27 seconds to win by three-and-a-half lengths in 1:50. The victory pushed his career earnings beyond C$400,000.
Fifth And Five gives the McKinnon stable a second finalist from post 9 with Jody Jamieson driving. The 4-year-old Bettors Delight horse finished third in his trial, beaten only a neck in 1:50.3. He is the 3-1 second choice.
Ammo will leave from post 5 with Marc Campbell in the seat for trainer Ron Matheson. The 6-year-old son of Sweet Lou is only C$2,836 away from becoming a millionaire for owners Patrick Morris of Charlottetown and Woodmere Farms of Marshfield.
Campbell has three Gold Cup and Saucer victories to his credit and said experience has brought a sense of calmness entering the signature race.
“A good friend of mine, Andrew Harris, told me, ‘Pressure is a privilege,’” Campbell said. “Racing here during Old Home Week is a privilege. It’s an absolute privilege to race in front of the crowds we get.”
Campbell recognizes Ammo will need the right trip but has seen enough upsets during his career to know nothing is guaranteed.
“You have to go into the race believing you can win, but just wanting to finish in the top three or get some money,” Campbell said.
“You have to hide him a little and hope something happens. We’ll be ready if it does. I think I can have him in position, and I’ll be ready to take advantage if it happens.”
Another Gold Cup victory would carry a different meaning for Campbell now that his children are older and involved in the family operation after previously winning the race in 2013, 2015 and 2020.
“They would all be here now,” Campbell said. “Landon is driving and Allie is training at home. We’re all more involved, and we have a farm. They’re my biggest fan club, and I’m theirs, so it’s pretty cool.”
Trumpster Blues provides another strong Island connection from post 4 for driver Brady Sweet, trainer Jeff Holmes and owner Tommy Collings of Mount Stewart.
The 6-year-old son of Always B Miki finished third in his trial in 1:51.4 to give the 24-year-old Sweet his first drive in the Gold Cup and Saucer final.
“I always hoped I would get this opportunity, but I never thought it would come at this point in my career,” Sweet said.
Sweet credited his brother-in-law Holmes with helping him reach the biggest race of his young career.
“I can’t say enough about Jeff,” Sweet said. “He gave me the opportunity to drive some of those horses at a young age, and it kept snowballing from there.”
Sweet would ideally like to secure an inside position behind Sugar Man and Fifth And Five, but he understands every plan can change immediately after the start.
“If everything went exactly the way I wanted, I would love to sit in the three-hole behind the one and the nine,” Sweet said. “Just cut down right away and have a few parked out. Then hopefully I can squeeze out late. That would be the dream, but everything changes once the wings fold.”
The magnitude of the moment began to sink in after Trumpster Blues secured his place in the final.
“I’m nervous, but it’s a good nervous,” Sweet said. “I’ve dreamed about this for a long time. I’ve watched it every year, and it still hasn’t really sunk in that this year I’m in it.”
Jordy N is the 7-2 third choice from post 2 for driver Jason Ryan and trainer Jacques Dupont. The New Zealand-bred pacer endured a demanding parked out journey in Sugar Man’s trial before holding third while race timed in 1:50.4.
Timeisonmyside leaves from post 3 with Anthony MacDonald driving for trainer Jamie Smith. The 5-year-old led through most of his trial before being caught in the final stride by Helluva N, with both pacers timed in 1:50.3.
Helluva N starts from post 6 with Louis-Philippe Roy driving for the Dupont stable. Brue Hanover has post 7 for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Ashley Gamester after finishing second to Sugar Man in a 1:50.3 clocking.
The evening program also features a pair of $26,200 Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold 3-year-old pacing colt events in races 6 and 11.
The $10,000 Premier’s Pace lines up in race 12 with Bee Two Bee leaving from post 4 for driver Hughes. The Mike MacDonald Memorial for the top pacing mares takes to the track in race 14 with Rosetown Mary (MacPherson), Trumps Girl (Anthony MacDonald) and Badgirl Bridgette (Hughes) among the leading contenders.
The first-half of the Saturday doubleheader has a 12:30 p.m., opening post time featuring the Joe O’Brien Memorial for 3-year-old pacing colts and the C$15,000 P.E.I. Harness Racing Invitational during an 11-dash presentation.
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