If you had told Johnny Heffernan three weeks ago that his new horse Cruisinart would be racing against the best pacers in the Maritimes before the end of July, he probably would have told you it was a joke

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But after two impressive starts since arriving from Quebec, Cruisinart has earned himself a berth in Saturday's Northside Downs Invitational for a purse of $8,000 featuring some of the top aged pacers in the Maritimes.

The six-year-old Real Artist gelding has been turning heads after a 1:57 victory at Inverness Raceway on July 12th, before following it up with a second place finish last Saturday in the Winners Over at Northside Downs.

"He was parked to the fastest half in Downs history last week," said track announcer Shane Ryan, "and while most horses would have faded, Cruisinart cleared the leader and almost drove on to win. He earned a geat deal of respect with that race last week. While [Saturday's] invitational will be a much stiffer test for Cruisinart, one way or another he will probably have an impact on the big race."

According to Ryan, "He has shown big speed off the gait and appears to want to be on the front end. With an inside post position to work with, there could be some big early speed from Cruisinart, which could spell trouble for others in the field."

Cruisinart will be joined by two other locally owned entries in PH Mike and Silver Dragon. PH Mike has been a model of consistency this season, winning four of his last five starts at Northside Downs. P H Mike will leave from post position 7 for owner and driver Myles Heffernan.

Silver Dragon, who just returned from Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario where he has been all season, has drawn the outside six post for owner and driver Dave Ratchford. Silver Dragon has won already this season in 1:52.3, and has career earnings over $180,000. "This is Silver Dragon's home track, where he first started his racing career, and Dave Ratchford's home track as well. To win this invitational at his home track would be something special."

The three local entries will be joined by stiff competition in the form of St Pete Star, last year's invitational winner for Danny Romo; Outlawpositivcharg, who last week captured the Governor's Plate in Summerside for the second year in a row for Terry Gallant; and Scotian Sunset and Riccaras Sun, who finished second and third respectively in last week's Governor's Plate.

The fifteen dash card also features the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, with the "A" division racing for a purse of $15,920, along with two "B" divisions. Two locally owned entries JK Neville and Papas Little Rose, are entered into the rich "A" stake.

Post time for the fifteen dash card is at 1:10 p.m.

To view Saturday's entries, click here.

(Northside Downs)