There will be entries and rumours of entries
The field taking shape for the Gold Cup and Saucer race next month in Charlottetown
The trials for the Sobeys Gold Cup and Saucer are coming up in just 15 days, and talk ramps up of possible entrants for the East Coast classic
Last Friday at Mohawk Raceway, Shadow Place was a winner in 1:50.3 with Sylvain Filion in the bike for trainer Kyle Fellows. The six-year-old son of Shadow Play is a possible entry in the Gold Cup and Saucer trials.
Another Fellows trainee, McKinney, was a winner in 1:54.2 on Sunday evening at Georgian Downs in Ontario as he prepares to possibly come east. Fellows has already been on the East Coast as he raced Dixie Lullaby on Saturday in Charlottetown.
Champagne Phil is a possible entry for trainer Dean Nixon, who won the 2011 edition of the race with Blissfull Breeze. The seven-year-old Shanghai Phil pace was second his last start at Georgian Downs, pacing the five-eighths oval in 1:51.1.
A pair of entries from the Jamie Copley stable is possible with the Inverness, N.S., native co-owning some high-class animals with Island natives Dean Larkin and Jody Sanderson. Sports Lightning was a recent winner in 1:51.4 in an $18,000 class over Mohawk Raceway in Ontario, and Stover won over the five-eighths oval at Rideau Carleton Raceway outside Ottawa in 1:54.2 on July 9.
Do Over Hanover is all but certain after capturing the 49th edition of the Governor’s Plate earlier this month.
The other possible Copleytrainee on a truck headed east is Skyway Boomer, who has been pacing in 1:51 over Mohawk Raceway and won over Rideau Carleton in 1:52.4 earlier this month.
Crombie A is another to expect in the race after recording a track-record performance in the $7,500 Exhibition Cup Invitational Saturday at the Truro Raceway. The 1:52.4 mile had Marc Campbell in the bike for trainer Earl Watts and owners Allard Racing Inc., and Kapildeo Singh.
Another entry from the Allard camp is a possibility as well as entries from trainers Ron Burke of Pennsylvania, Victor Puddy of Ontario and Jimmy Takter of New Jersey.
Hot Deuce, Good Friday Three, Junebugs Baby and His Boy Elroy all have the credentials to compete in the trials as well. P.E.I. scene
Island racing has suffered another loss with the passing of Robert MacInnis this week.
The personable 62-year-old trainer-driver plied his trade across the Maritimes, but mostly from his home base of the Summerside Raceway.
A winner of 654 races and $453,052 in prize money in his career, MacInnis was known for his easy-going attitude and kind demeanour. My condolences to wife Brenda and daughter Morgan, as well as the rest of his family.
My condolences as well to the family of Arlene MacQuarrie on her recent passing. The 67-yearold was the wife of longtime horseperson Calvin MacQuarrie of Oyster Bed Bridge.