The sloppy conditions at Exhibition Park Raceway on Saturday (July 2) suited former paddock friends Fern Hill General and Fern Hill Gusto just fine.

Each of Saturday's two Barrieau-McIsaac eliminations for sophomore pacers were captured by horses bred by Fern Hill Acres Farm's Brian MacLeod of Truro, N.S., setting up a showdown for the Fern Hill graduates in next week's lucrative final.

Fastest among those qualifying for the Barrieau-McIsaac Final was Fern Hill General ($6.70), a confident winner for driver Brodie MacPhee and trainer Earl Smith. Protecting position while getting away midpack in fourth, MacPhee allowed longshot Woodmere Jazz (Corey MacPherson) to land on the front in :29.1 before sending Fern Hill General to challenge. Fern Hill General made the lead around the three-eighths mark and then repelled all rivals from there. Honest middle fractions of :59.4 and 1:30.2 followed, with a :30.4 final panel extending two-length lead turning for home to three as the wire was reached in 2:01.1 with judges applying a four-second variant given the conditions.

Orrsterror (Gilles Barrieau) rallied for second with Soulassassin (David Dowling) and Howmac Maximus (Todd Trites) completing the top four finishers to advance.

Owned by Peter Smith and Gerald Morrissey of P.E.I., Fern Hill General (Malicious - Noble Ellen) has been a model of consistency to start his sophomore season with a summary of 3-2-3 in eight appearances. The win lifted his lifetime summary to 9-3-4 in 19 starts with $54,428 in the bank.

The first elimination was much more contentious. Fern Hill Gusto ($4.60) prevailed after a first-over grind launched just before the half, wearing down pacesetter Stash It Away (Corey MacPherson) and then holding off late rallies from Mitch (Todd Trites), Alldawaytocardigan (Myles Heffernan) and Zendayacougarbeach (David Dowling) to win by a nose in 2:03.2.

Marc Campbell trains and drives Fern Hill Gusto (Stonebridge Terror - Helen O Grace) for Grayland Farm of Gulf Shore, N.S. Nearly as consistent as his former farm friend-turned-rival, Fern Hill Gusto sports a 3-2-2 summary from eight seasonal outings with $15,736 accrued in 2022. The win was the fourth of his career to lift his lifetime bankroll over the $34,000 mark.

Two-year-old pacing filly Miss Countour ($6.90) made her pari-mutuel debut in style, doing all the work in the single $11,500 NB Breeders Stakes division to score in 2:09 for trainer/driver David Dowling. The Shadow Play - Raquel filly was a $26,000 Atlantic Classic Yearling sale purchase, now owned by David & Matt Burke and Don MacNeill Jr. of P.E.I.

Bettim Again ($3.00) sent a message to his rivals in the $2,500 Winners Over Pace, annihilating his rivals by nearly 15 lengths to win in 2:02 for driver Todd Trites, trainer George Rennison and owners Jeff Lilley, Blair MacLauchlan & Ian MacDonald.

For full results from Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Exhibition Park Raceway.