All Star Dragon gave driver Gilles Barrieau his fourth win on the 16-race action-packed card of racing Saturday at Exhibition Park Raceway when he prevailed in the $6,000 Horse Racing New Brunswick Invitational Pace

.

The four-year-old son of Dragon Again-West Star Lady got away fourth from Post 3 in the seven-horse feature as the odds-on favourite Astronomical (Brian MacPhee) left from the rail and established the lead.

Astronomical, the Gold Cup & Saucer consolation winner and Exhibition Cup Invitational champ, bypassed early stations of :29.1 and :59, before St Pete Star (Danny Romo) laid on the pressure past three-quarters in 1:28.4. The pair were neck-in-neck heading into the stretch, but the 6-1 fourth choice All Star Dragon rallied from second-over using a :28.1 final frame to prevail in 1:57.2.

Longshot Silver Dragon (Todd Trites) came on to finish second a half-length behind while Astronomical rounded out the top three finishers.

All Star Dragon, the winner of the 50th Walter Dale Memorial Pace at Fredericton earlier this season, scored his fifth win in eight 2009 starts. Stacy Gay trains and owns the 10-time career winner, who sports a 13,278 bankroll.

In the $3,000 Ingham Palmer Memorial Junior Invitational Pace the 6-1 Igoddago made the lead at the half after moving first-up from fifth and was unchallenged as he completed the mile in 1:57.3 for trainer, driver and owner Mike Campbell.

B J Cruiser (Gilles Barrieau) finished a length and a half behind in second and Take The Risk (Danny Romo) finished back in third.

An 11-year-old son of Drop Off-Sakra Posey, Igoddago scored his fifth win of the year in 16 starts and 56th of his career pushing his life earning’s to $205,125.

Three Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' division for three-year-old pacing colts were also featured on the card.

The Terry Gallant trained and driven Stars Xample front-stepped his way to a 1:58.1 score in the first division. The N Xample-Hidden Assets colt turned back a challenge from Extreme Measure (Shane Bernard) at three-quarters and sprinted home in :28.4 for the four-length victory.

Porthill Gatsby (Todd Trites) pocketed the runner-up’s share of the $9,040 purse and Mr Pogge (Gillies Barrieau) earned the show dough.

Stars Xample has won six of his seven ATSS starts this year for owner and breeder Catherine MacNeil of Albert Bridge, N.S. He has compiled a record reading 10-2-1 in 13 seasonal starts earning $30,016. The sophomore colt now boasts 15 wins lifetime and $41,165 in earnings.

One of Barrieau’s other winner’s was Ultimate Success, who was on top by the half in his ATSS split and rolled past the remaining panels en route to a 1:58.2 score by two and three-quarter lengths.

Urge To Win (Shane Bernard) and Kingofthecastle (Earl Smith) finished second and third.

The appropriately named gelding is now two-for-five in ATSS action with six wins, four seconds and a third in 13 seasonal starts and $21,967 earned. Barrieau also trains the son of Western Success-Mariart, a winner of nine races lifetime and $23,979, for owners Robert Tilley, Lester Mott and Kelly Barrieau of Saint John, N.B.

In the final division, Pictonian Manowar (Todd Trites) moved three-wide at three-quarters and sprinted home in :29.1 hitting the wire first, a head in front of Calmlee Jason and driver Carl Isenor, who also used a :29.1 final quarter to come on from fifth. Calmlee Jason, however, inherited the win as Pictonian Manowar was placed second for causing interference after the start of the race. Calmlee Jason’s winning time was 2:00. Cruising Kyler (Terry Gallent) rounded out the top three.

Calmlee Jason scored his first win in ATSS action this year and improved his seasonal record to 3-1-1 in 11 starts giving him $11,336 in earnings. The son of Drop Off-Zbojnicka has won five times earning $30,552 lifetime for trainer/owner Calvin Isenor.

Miramichi Murdock (2:00.2) with Barrieau and Woodmere Bigsplash (1:59) with Todd Trites, who scored a driving hat trick on Saturday, each won their respective $2,500 ATSS 'B' divisions for three-year-old pacing colts.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.