Charlottetown: Covered Bridge tops Gillis, Ford exacta in Gold Cup and Saucer

Covered Bridge, who won the Camluck Classic at Western Fair earlier this year, picked up another major victory north of the border by capturing Saturday night's C$100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The final time over the half-mile oval was 1:50 3/5.

American History (Dale Spence) went a big opening-half of 26 1/5 and 53 4/5 on the lead with Funatthebeach N (Scott Young) going first-over out of third coming ot the half and P L Ozzy (Jody Jamieson) and Covered Bridge (Jordan Stratton) moving out to follow him. That seemingly orderly flow changed heading to the 1:22 4/5 three-quarters, though, as Roll Em (Marc Campbell) pushed off the inside under P L Ozzy, forcing him three-wide and Covered Bridge four-wide as Funatthebeach N surged past a spent American History to take command.

It looked like Funatthebeach N was going to be hard to catch as he was clear turning for home and Covered Bridge was still wide on the final bend, but Covered Bridge hit top gear in the lane and was able to get by Funatthebeach N nearing the wire, defeating him by a length. P L Ozzy wound up third, followed by Roll Em and Lawless Shadow (Tyler Moore).

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"All the congratulations go to Jeff Gillis and his crew," Stratton said of the trainer who finished 1-2 in the race, as did owner Mark Ford. "Especially down in New York, those guys do a great job. I just get to shake hands here when he gets on the racetrack. It's all their doing and I'm just happy to be part of it.

"I didn't really like my chances either (going to the half). I kind of wished I would have gotten in front of Jody, but he overcame kind of a bad trip really. Thanks to Scott (Young) for getting him in the final. He couldn't have driven any better. It's a little nerve-racking handing the lines over to somebody, but he did phenomenal. I thought I was going to clear Jody up the backside, and his horse hung tough. I just had to check him a little bit so I didn't hit his legs there. I looked up and Funatthebeach N was turning for home, and I know how he can find the wire. I was cursing myself out for not getting on Scott's back on the first turn, but he overcame it."

A 7-year-old gelding by American Ideal, Covered Bridge is now a 39-time winner and has earned C$1,035,140. He was the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.40 to win.