Sugar Man delivered an impressive performance in one of the three Atlantic Lottery Gold Cup and Saucer Trials held on Aug. 15.
The four-year-old bay, bred from Papi Rob Hanover and Sweet As Sugar by Yankee Cruiser, clocked 1:50 flat, making it the second-fastest mile ever recorded at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino’s Charlottetown Driving Park, which has hosted harness racing for nearly 140 years.
Sugar Man was driven by Jody Jamieson, who said the inside starting position played a major role in the victory.
“We had the best horse with the rail spot,” Jamieson told The Guardian after the race. “We got to go the shortest way around, and I just lined everybody up the best I could. My horse did all the work.”
Sugar Man led through fractions of 26.2, 55 seconds and 1:23 before finishing strongly.
Jamieson said he knew the horse still had plenty in reserve as they approached the final turn.
“At the three-quarter pole I knew I had lots of pace,” he said. “I just thought we’d have a little bit of fun and let him sprint home. Wow, he sprinted home in 27 seconds flat.”
Track record remains intact
Miki Shan N, winner of the third trial in 1:51.2, still owns the Charlottetown track record of 1:49.4.
The horse made history on Oct. 12, 2025, when he recorded the first sub-1:50 mile in Atlantic harness racing history during Atlantic Breeders Crown Weekend.
Jamieson said setting a track record was not on his mind during Sugar Man’s run.
“You never think track record because that’s the worst thing,” he said. “As soon as you start thinking track record, somebody sneaks up beside you and tries to beat you for that track record.”
His main objective, he added, was simply to win the trial.
The top three finishers from each $15,000 trial earned places in the 67th edition of the $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer, presented by Atlantic Lottery, at Red Shores Charlottetown on Aug. 22.
Brue Hanover finished second behind Sugar Man, while Jordy N took third to secure their places in the final.
Brue Hanover is trained by Ashley Gamester and owned by Jody Sanderson of Cornwall, P.E.I., Duane C. MacPhail of North Palm Beach, Florida, and Brue Hanover Stables of Cornwall.
Helluva N wins second trial
Helluva N, driven by Louise Philippe Roy, captured the second trial in 1:50.3.
Roy settled in third as Timeisonmyside and Fifth And Five set the early pace before the field headed into the stretch. The fractions were 27.1, 55.2 and 1:23.
“It was a very, very nice finish,” Roy said. “That’s all you ask for when you have that kind of crowd here.”
He added that he hoped the Gold Cup and Saucer final would provide another exciting race.
Jamieson drove Fifth And Five from Post 7, while Anthony MacDonald was aboard Timeisonmyside from Post 3.
Roy said he expected Jamieson to settle into a position early and was pleased when other horses pushed the pace from the inside.
“When I saw the opportunity to follow him, it was kind of easy for me,” Roy said. “Then my horse just did the work when I asked him late.”
Helluva N is a nine-year-old bay gelding by Mach Three out of Desire Mhe by Real Desire. Jacques Dupont trains the horse for Ecurie CSL of Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. Dupont and Ecurie CSL also train and own Jordy N.
Roy spoke highly of Helluva N and said choosing a horse for the final would be difficult.
“I really like this one,” he said. “If I have to make a choice next week, it’s going to be hard to go against him, I think.”
Miki Shan N advances
Miki Shan N made a strong statement in the third trial, with driver Corey MacPherson noting that the defending Gold Cup and Saucer champion and 2025 Governor’s Plate winner had his best start since returning to Prince Edward Island.
“He’s gone some nice miles, but the racing luck hasn’t gone his way, and he’s had a few issues,” MacPherson said. “But he’s up in shape now.”
Ammo, driven by Marc Campbell, set the pace through fractions of 26.4, 55.2 and 1:23.4 before Miki Shan N found room along the inside and surged home.
MacPherson said Ammo’s early speed helped him secure the position he wanted.
“I tried my hardest just to stick him through the turn and make sure that I got that two-hole ride,” he said. “Marc’s horse took me exactly where I needed to get to, and I took advantage of it.”
Ammo finished second, while Trumpster Blues was third. Both horses have P.E.I. connections and advanced to the Gold Cup and Saucer final.
Ron Matheson trains Ammo for Patrick C. Morris of Charlottetown and Woodmere Farms of Marshfield. Trumpster Blues is owned by Tommy A. Collings of Mount Stewart and trained by Jeff Holmes. Brady Sweet drove Trumpster Blues in the trial.
Strong field expected
MacPherson believes this year’s Gold Cup and Saucer final will feature an exceptionally competitive field.
He pointed to Fifth And Five as one of several serious contenders, noting that the horse had recently competed at The Meadowlands and paced in 1:47.
“If you go through the program, a lot of them show 48,” MacPherson said. “That’s serious — they’re good horses.”
MacPherson, who drove Miki Shan N to victory in the 2025 Gold Cup and Saucer, believes the seven-year-old bay horse by Always B Miki out of Yankee Dream by Dream Away can defend his title.
“If Miki’s on his game, it takes a horse to beat him,” he said. “I know there’s horsepower here this year, and there was horsepower here last year, but there’s some serious horsepower here this year.”
He added that another victory would be possible if Miki Shan N gets the right trip.
“If I get the trip and things work out, I’m not saying he can’t do it again,” MacPherson said.
Gold Cup and Saucer finalists
The nine horses qualified for the 67th Gold Cup and Saucer in Charlottetown on Aug. 22 are:
– Sugar Man
– Brue Hanover
– Jordy N
– Helluva N
– Timeisonmyside
– Fifth And Five
– Miki Shan N
– Ammo
– Trumpster Blues
