Ys Lotus wins Trial 2

Field set for Gold Cup and Saucer

“We’ve seen weird things happen here with horses winning from the eight-hole like Earl Smith (winning with Pownal Bay Matt in 2008). This horse is feeling good, so you just have to hope he can keep his streak to seven.” Trainer Rene Allard

Ys Lotus loves Prince Edward Island, and he proved it again Monday night in Sobeys Gold Cup and Saucer Trial 2 at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Louis Philippe Roy was back in the bike behind the defending Gold Cup and Saucer champion, and he found room late in the mile to get up to win between horses in 1:52.4.

The Marc Campbell-driven Sapphire City left hard from Post 7 to make front through a 27.1 quarter, before Arque Hanover (Gilles Barrieau) made a move to lead past the half in 55 seconds, and set up the three-quarters in 1:24.2, with Ys Lotus trapped on the rail.

Sportslightning (Bob McClure) had the lead halfway down the stretch, but it was the Rene Allard-trained Ys Lotus that made his way to the CDP winner’s circle to add to his undefeated record in five races in 2016 on red soil.

“He is a horse with allergies, and I think he likes it here,” Allard said in the winner’s circle. “A horse with allergies is always better here, I think, because it is an Island.

“(P.E.I. caretaker) Jordan MacKay does a great job with him. He loves the horse, and he was the one who talked me into taking him back this year. I wasn’t planning on taking him back, that’s why he raced on Monday.

“The horses that were entering were on the light side, so we decided to take him.”

Sportslightning finished second in Monday’s trial, with Sapphire City third and Arque Hanover earning the final spot in Saturday night’s $60,000 Sobeys Gold Cup and Saucer final. They will join Always At My Place, Shadow Place, Do Over Hanover and Crombie A in that eight-horse field.

Good Friday Three finished sixth, but was placed fifth in Monday’s trial. Junebugs Baby was seventh and placed sixth, and McKinney, who caused the infraction, was placed back to seventh place from his fifthplace finish.

Those three will go to the $20,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Gold Cup and Saucer consolation.

“We’re going to need a lot of luck this year,” Allard said of his three entries in Saturday’s final. “I think it is a tougher field than last year.

“Burke’s horse Saturday (Always At My Place) was just unbelievable, so unless Burke’s horses draw seven and eight we aren’t beating them. But the only race you can’t win is the one you’re not in, so you got to be in it to win it.

“We’ve seen weird things happen here with horses winning from the eight-hole like Earl Smith (winning with Pownal Bay Matt in 2008). This horse is feeling good, so you just have to hope he can keep his streak to seven.”

Nicholas Oakes is covering harness racing at Old Home Week for The Guardian, culminating with the Gold Cup and Saucer Race, Aug. 19.