Horse Racing New Brunswick will host a superb Saturday afternoon (Sept. 5) card at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B., as the coveted Milton Downey Memorial for two-year-olds will take centre stage.

Named in honour of Saint John businessman and racing pioneer Milton Downey, the stakes will feature a total of three divisions -- two for colts and one for fillies -- and will boast a combined purse of close to $20,000.

The first division (Race 3) will feature a colt that is part-owned by Saint John interests Gary Mott and Robert Tilley. Steel Reefer, a two-time winner this season for Saint John Hall of Fame trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau, has drawn Post 1. In six lifetime starts, the son of Steelhead Hanover has notched two wins, three seconds and close to $17,000 in the bank. He has a record this season of 1:57.2 that was taken at Summerside Raceway. Wayne MacRae of Nova Scotia also owns a share of the colt. Steel Reefer will be tested by Post 4 starter Woodmere Alvin, who will host talented reinsman Redmond Doucet in the bike. Woodmere Alvin has shown consistency with five on-the-board finishes from seven starts, including a 1:59.1 victory.

It appears as though the second colt division will be a battle of two more Steelhead Hanover colts and a colt by State Treasurer. Jason Hughes is set to pilot Justcallmedoc, who has a charted line of 1:55.4 two starts back. Barrieau will start from Post 2 with Dustylanegoliath, who was second to sensational Woodmere Stealdeal in his last mile, charted in 1:56.4. Rounding out the big three in the second division will be Saltwater Savage, who has been a force to be reckoned with all season. He has four wins from five starts, including a record of 1:56.4. Mark Bradley is set to pilot the top contender.

In the lone filly division, Need To Know, who is set to start from outside Post 5, will have the red-hot Jason Hughes in the bike. The filly brings a solid resume to Saint John, having posted three wins and three seconds from six starts. The daughter of Warrawee Needy has a lifetime speed badge of 1:59. Tobins Brownie, who is another one to watch from the Jonah Moase stable, has a victory to her credit this year in 1:58.4. Woodmere Stella, who will start from Post 1, has the second highest earnings this season in the race. The Earl Smith pupil will have Gilles Barrieau in the sulky.

Saturday's big card also features the Roddy Goguen Memorial Pace, which has been slated as the afternoon's finale. Gold Cup and Saucer finalist and local entry Father Ofthe Year is the morning line favourite and has paced both of his last two miles in the 1:53 range.

Horse Racing New Brunswick would like to extend its gratitude to all of the horsemen and women that are shipping in for the afternoon of racing, and welcome fans back to the track after a brief hiatus to allow local entries to take part in other cards in the Maritimes.

Post time will be at 1:00 p.m. at the Saint John oval. Wagering will be available in Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton and through HPIBet on-line.

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at EPR, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Exhibition Park Raceway.

(HRNB)