If there's one thing Surrealist has done in the last year at tracks across Nova Scotia, it's win races against the best in the province.
Surrealist winning at Truro Raceway earlier this year
Making his first seasonal start at Northside Downs, the 11-year-old iron horse was favoured in a field of six heading postward in the $1,100 Winners Over and he didn't disappoint his backers. Trainer Paul Langille settled Surrealist away in fourth while Dreamfair Van Dam (Gerard Kennedy) found the early lead and fronted the field through the :30.1 opener. After pressure from the backfield in the form of J Jetstar (Greg Sparling), Langille had Surrealist out from fourth and tracking the leader first-over as the half-mile was reached in 1:01.1 Surrealist managed get to within a length of the pacesetter through the 1:30.1 third station. Neither horse had intentions of packing it in, however and the two veterans slugged it out heading for home. In deep stretch, Surrealist showed why he had the support of the punters by digging deep to prevail in 2:00 by three-parts of a length over Dreamfair Van Dam with pocket riding J N J (Roddy Hurley) staying for third.
In 2016, Surrealist was victorious in 19 races and tied for most wins in North American harness racing with U.S.-based horses Velocity Vespa and Mademoiselle Paris. Owned by Dana Getto of New Waterford, N.S., the Modern Art - Keeping Secrets gelding now has four wins on the year for 58 lifetime along with more than $280,000 in purses.
Earlier on the card, pacing gelding Chapter was victorious for trainer-driver Keith Dicks, giving the horseman his first driving victory since 2012. The 10-year-old Astreos gelding was much the best in his conditioned tilt, winning by nearly 22 lengths in a swift 1:58.4. Of note, the last time Dicks won a race was on October 6, 2012 at Northside Downs. The horse he won with? Chapter, then a five-year-old.
For full results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.