Some of Manitoba's best standardbreds were on display at the racetrack in Holland on Saturday for a stakes-packed card of harness racing that included the 17th edition of the MSSBA Futurity
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In the $13,042 feature of the day, pacing filly Great Gates (George Isman) was a brave first-up challenger just before the half-mile marker against pacesetter Betts Karma (Don Anness) before eventually clearing and holding off the challenge of favoured Bubbles Promise (Greg Manning) for the 2:02.1 score, her third straight win and a new lifetime best.
Arthur Rey of St. Claude, Man. owns and trains the three-year-old daughter of Gates Brown - Exuberine Hanover, who sports a sweet record of five wins and two seconds in seven lifetime starts.
Freshman pacers from Firm Friend were victorious in the two $2,810 divisions of The Kindergarten, as Don Anness-trained and owned Aces Attitude (2:05.3, Roland Rey) and Art For The Heart (2:05.2, Greg Manning) were both victorious.
Manning also guided Speed Rating - a gelding he co-owns and trains - to victory in the $2,800 MHHI 3 & 4 Year Old Stake, delivering on his favoured status by a neck in 2:01.1.
Up and coming driver Philip Giesbrecht showed his skills in distance racing by sweeping both $1,600 divisions in the second leg of the MHHI $3500 Claiming Series raced at a mile and a quarter. Giesbrecht scored with Omemme in the first division and Off The Matt in the second.
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