There's not a Standardbred horse on the continent with more wins this year than Hugh Heff, who picked up his fifth straight score to stay perfect for his current connections on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Northside Downs.

Sent off as the 6-5 choice in the $1,600 Winners Over Pace, Hugh Heff got away sixth from post six as the field of six straightened away down the backstretch, but driver Randy Getto started his overland journey before rival Revenant (Mark Pezzarello) hit the first station in :28.2. Q Ts Charlie (Jeremy Baker) provided cover for Hugh Heff through middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:27.4, and then Getto flipped the three-wide switch around the far turn.

Heading for home, Hugh Heff hit the afterburners and sprinted away from his challengers for the 1:58.2 victory. Q Ts Charlie edged past Revenant for the runner-up spot.

Owned by Nova Scotians Randy Getto, Susan MacSween and Wayne Hardy and trained by Dana Getto, Hugh Heff (Betterthancheddar-Danika Patrix) has now won 19 of 33 seasonal starts, hitting the board in 28 of those outings, and now sports more than $101,000 in earnings.

Those 19 seasonal victories place Hugh Heff atop the standings for the winningest horse in all of North America, two more than U.S.-based Need Ur Opinion and Lloyds Loves.

The Big Chase ($6.40) forged first up early, took over the lead from favoured Brother John (Keigan Madden) before the three-quarter mark and then held off all challengers to prevail in the $3,500 Celtic Financial Series final. Seven-year-old The Big Chase (Western Paradise - April Dawns Star) was three-qaurters of a length better than Bobjohnski (Pezzarello) with Wine N Cheddar (Ardon Mofford) completing the triactor.

Ian McKinnon trains and co-owns the 20-time winner along with Kenneth McKinnon of Glace Bay and Sonny MacDougall of Westmount, N.S.

The $2,000 Celtic Financial Series Consolation went to the 13-year-old war horse OK Gladiator ($4.20), a winner in 2:01.2 for driver Gerard Kennedy, co-owner Brian Tracey of Port Hawkebury, N.S., and trainer and co-owner Donald Kennedy of Frankville, N.S.

The 2024 Celtic Financial Series was for non-winners of $2,000 in 2024 as of September 1, 2024, minimum 10 seasonal starts, with horses that have competed in the Winners Over not eligible.

For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)