Nicholas Oakes
The second $12,500 trial headlined the Monday evening card as part of Old Home Week Racing with Bet On Brett seizing control of the race before the first turn and fighting off all challenges in 1:51.2.
Driver Louis-Philippe Roy sent his charge to the lead from the start to put down splits of 27.2 and 56.1 before being challenged on the outside by the first-over Lincolnjames (driven by Anthony MacDonald).
The three-quarters were tripped in 1:24.1 with Bet On Brett and Lincolnjames neck-and-neck before Roy steered his horse to the wire first in the stretch drive. Lincolnjames was second with the pocket sitting Asap Hanover (Jody Jamieson) finishing third and Always N The Money (Travis Cullen) earning the final spot in Saturday’s $60,000 final.
Those four will join Somewhere Fancy, Rockin In Heaven, Rose Run Quest and Fool Me Bet on Brett crosses the wire in 1:51.2 to win Gold Cup and Saucer Trial 2 Monday night at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The field for the $60,000 The Guardian Gold Cup and Sauce Race is now set.
Once in the final.
This was the first start for Bet On Brett in the barn of trainer Rene Allard after being purchased by Red Isle Racing of North Granville, Donald and Steven MacRae of Vernon Bridge and Allard Racing of Saint-Esprit, Que.
Allard trained Bet On Brett last Wednesday over the Charlottetown Driving Park to get him ready for competition on a halfmile track.
“The first time that he trained he was okay, then the second time he made a little break,” Allard said of Wednesday’s training session.
“Then we made a few adjustments and scored him a quarter in like 27 seconds in the jogcart so we knew he’d get around. This horse is owned by such a big group from here that honestly I was nervous. It was a new horse,
first start and I put a lot of pressure on myself. Normally I don’t get nervous but Steven MacRae owns part of this horse and I always have a soft spot for him and Donnie MacRae has been great to me and then there is the group from Kensington.”
In Monday’s trial, Allard was surprised with how the first quarter unfolded after assuming Anthony MacDonald use his regular tactics of leaving off the gate.
“I thought Anthony’s horse was a really good horse and honestly I was concerned. I thought Anthony would be blasting out of there and we would get a two-hole trip. Anthony is not normally known for being conservative but that’s probably what won us the race, we made front and Anthony was caught first up.”
After winning both trials, Allard’s
concerns rest with Lincolnjames and Rockin In Heaven to win Saturday’s final.
“Rockin In Heaven is the best horse going to the Gold Cup and Saucer final now if this was Mohawk I think it would be very difficult to beat him,” he said. “On a half-mile track I think there are ways to beat him but he is incredibly sharp right now. After the wire Saturday night was still coming.”
Allard finds it fitting that Rockin In Heaven’s trainer, Teesha Symes, had her first experience in the Gold Cup and Saucer paddocking Royal Becquet for him 10 years ago and now she is his biggest competition.
“If Teesha wins the Gold Cup and Saucer that would be awesome, I would be very happy for her. It would be great for all the girls out there that dream of
being a trainer that they can win a big race like the Gold Cup and Saucer. I’m just very fortunate that we won both trials and no matter what happens Saturday night we’re here and we’re having a blast.”
The Gold Cup and Saucer postposition draw was held Tuesday evening at the CDP. Go to www. theguardian.pe.ca for the complete draw.
Old Home Week racing continues Wednesday with a 12-dash card featuring the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts kicking off at 7 p.m.
The evening has a pair of $13,680 A-divisions for the rookie pacers with the Race 8 split featuring Woodmere Bolt trying to stay undefeated in his career for trainer-driver Earl Smith.