Maritimer To Woodmere Skyroller
Woodmere Skyroller took a four-race win streak into Saint John, N.B. on Saturday (Oct. 17) for the 2020 edition of the Maritimer Stake and the sophomore filly left town unbeaten in her last five.
The final harness racing card of the season for Exhibition Park Raceway featured a field of six in the $19,700 Maritimer. David Dowling sent Woodmere Skyroller to the front over the 'good' track ahead of Red Dirt Star (Gilles Barrieau) and the duo powered through panels of :28, :57.2 and 1:27.3. Barrieau angled Red Dirt Star out from the pocket around the final turn but Woodmere Skyroller had enough left in the tank to repel that rival and win by a length in 1:58. Favoured Kiss Me Im Irish (Brodie MacPhee) completed the triactor.
With a track rated off two seconds, Woodmere Skyroller equalled the track record of Whiskey To Wine set earlier this year.
Sporting a 10-4-1 record as a sophomore, Woodmere Skyroller (Rollwithitharry - Skylark Hanover) has banked $70,102 for owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I. Kevin MacLean handles the training of the filly, who surpassed the $100,000 career earnings plateau with the win.
Closing the card with a bang, the Jim Doherty Memorial $2,000 Winners Over Pace featured five horses all within a just over a length of each other at the finish. After Brandons Glory (Barrieau) paced through taxing fractions of :27.2, :58.1 and 1:27.3, Montrose Hope (John Davidson) was able to swoop in from fourth at the top of the stretch to pick off his rivals and win in 2:00.1. Bugger Max (Mark Haig) and Union Man Hanover Dowling) completed the top three.
A homebred owned by Harvey Holm of Alberton, P.E.I. and trained by Lucie St. Amour, Montrose Hope (Varadero Hanover - Exciting Life) picked up the fourth win of his four-year-old campaign. The consistent gelding has finished in the top three in 16 of his 19 seasonal starts.
Doug Beckwith went out on a high note on the Saturday finale with a training hat trick. Beckwith trainees U Cant Fix Stupid (2:03, $2.10), Paris Beau (2:01.4, $5.40) and Ebandtheboys (2:01, $4.50) were all guided to victory by Gilles Barrieau.
To view the results for the final card of the season at Exhibition Park Raceway, click the following link: Saturday Results - Exhibition Park Raceway.