Harness racing returns to Manitoba on Saturday (July 15) at Miami Fair with nine races slated for the season opener and a first race post time of 2 p.m.

A $4,800 Open Pace for horses and geldings tops the card with a field of five going to the gate in race nine. 

From the rail, Juliogetthestretch is the morning line favourite with odds of 9-5. Michel Rey will be in the bike for trainer Richard Rey. It will be the first start for Juliogetthestretch with the new connections and his first career start at Miami. Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener, Ont. purchased the four-year-old son of Vintage Master this past May after he competed in western Canada for his two- and three-year-old seasons.

Second choice Keystone Tenacious goes to the gate from post two with 2022 leading driver Blake Piwniuk in the bike for Trevor Williams. The eight-year-old So Surreal gelding is the most accomplished competitor on the card with $411,975 in career earnings and a resume with Grand Circuit appearances against the likes of Stay Hungry and Courtly Choice. He goes to the gate at odds of 2-1 for his Canadian debut with Trevor Williams taking over the conditioning.

Chazmichaelmichael drew the outside for his 2023 debut as the 5-2 third choice. The six-year-old gelding heads postward with owner George Isman at the controls for trainer Tara Isman. Chazmichaelmichael frequents finishing in the top three with a record of 10-10-11 in 60 starts.

Tagoras (PP3, Clayton Braybrook, 9-2) and Senga Savannah (PP4, Tyler Grundy, 4-1) round out the compact and combative Open quintet.

The seventh race features a $4,600 Fillies and Mares Open with Aurel Vodon's accomplished top class pacing mare Pure Addition headlining the field from the rail with odds of 7-5. Tyler Grundy will be in the bike behind the 14-time winner from 2022 who sports a 2-2-0 summary from five Cal Expo starts in 2023. Four of her wins from a year ago came at Miami in the Open class for trainer Jacqueline Grundy.

The live racing season in Manitoba starts with three race dates on Saturdays through the end of the month (July 15, 22, 29) at Miami. Post time will be 2 p.m. CDT. Racing continues in Manitoba at Canada's newest racetrack, The Loop, with an expected race date on Saturday, Aug. 5. Through Oct. 31, live harness racing will take place on Saturdays with a special card on Sunday, Sept. 3. Post time will shift from 2 p.m. to 1 p.m. in October.

To view Saturday's entries, click one of the following links: Miami Fair - Saturday Entries || Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT)