Harness racing returns to New Brunswick on Saturday afternoon (May 8), as Exhibition Park Raceway, in Saint John, will raise the curtain on its 18-day 2021 meeting.

The five-race program is highlighted by a $1,600 winners-over pace, carded as the finale. Black-type performer Blood Money brings impressive credentials into his New Brunswick debut, and will start from the outside post in the field of five with Mitchell Downey at the helm for trainer Ellen Stevenson. The son of Sweet Lou won the 2018 Matron Stakes as a rookie, along with stakes races in the Pennsylvania and Kentucky programs, took his mark of 1:50 last summer at Harrah's Philadelphia, and has amassed over $430,000 in his career.

Woodmere Ideal Art (Robert Laffin, post four) has been installed the 5-2 morning line favourite after hitting the board in 17 of 23 races last year, all in the Maritimes. The six-year-old Articulator gelding has campaigned exclusively for the Ultimate Stable and trainer Sifroi Melanson. A trio of Prince Edward Island invaders complete the field: Paris Beau (Mark Haig), Montrose Hope (John Davidson) and K D Overdrive (Kyle Mason).

Stevenson, who took top training honours at Exhibition Park in 2020 with 13 wins, will also start Umpire Hanover (race two, Michael Downey), Whiskey To Wine (race three, Mitchell Downey) and Fall Bliss (race four, Mitchell Downey) on the abbreviated Opening Day program.

Exhibition Park will host racing most Saturday afternoons through Oct. 23. Post time for all 18 programs is 1 p.m. Atlantic.

To view Saturday's entries at Exhibition Park Raceway, along with program pages courtesy TrackIT, click the following links: Entries | Program Pages.