Charlottetown: Smooth Lou routs Gold Cup & Saucer field

Smooth Lou was a dominant 1:51 1/5 winner of the 62nd edition of the C$60,000 Guardian Gold Cup & Saucer at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Driven by Robert Shepherd, Smooth Lou tucked briefly in fifth but was off the pylons and two-wide before 3-5 favorite Somewhere Fancy (David Dowling) hit the opening quarter in 27 2/5. From there, Somewhere Fancy got away with a half of just 56 seconds, but he was unable to fend off Smooth Lou's attack past that marker, as Smooth Lou forged his way into the top spot on the way to the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters.

It was all Smooth Lou after that, as he widened his margin to the wire, hitting the line 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Ideal Perception (Gilles Barrieau). Legion Seelster (Richard Simard) came in third, followed by Racemup (Brodie MacPhee) and Somewhere Fancy.

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"I just wanted to float and try and hold a position," said Shepherd. "I kind of got in there for a minute, but there was one on the outside. I figured I'd just stay out and come on a slow grind. It worked out.

"I could still hear someone, but I wasn't letting up. I was driving to the wire. I was making sure if I had the chance that I was getting it done. It's what we always wanted to win, and it was our night."

Trained by Robert's brother Patrick, Smooth Lou is a 5-year-old Sweet Lou gelding owned by Triple S Equine, Robert Woodburn, and Ronald Woodburn. Smooth Lou picked up his 16th career win, has now earned C$167,381, and paid $10.50 to win as the 4-1 second choice.