It's almost as if Hugh Heff took it personally.

Entered on Saturday, Oct. 26 in the opening leg of the Governor's Cup Series at Northside Downs, Hugh Heff came into Saturday's contest on a nine-race win streak. True, last week the four-year-old finished second and was placed first. But the horses that he faced on Saturday weren't the one that finished ahead of him in that event.

Each of his four rivals was familiar. And they had all failed to defeat North America's winningest Standardbred of 2024 to this point. In most of those races, the race office assigned Hugh Heff to the outside post. In the Governor's Cup Series lidlifter, Hugh Heff drew post three. 

And yet when the wings of the starting gate folded, Hugh Heff went off as the 8/5 second choice.

Those doubters could only shake their heads at that lack of faith, as Hugh Heff prevailed yet again to extend his win streak to 10 and remain unbeaten since arriving in Cape Breton 10 starts ago.

Randy Getto got away in midpack on Saturday in his $1,700 division as Kraken Seelster (Ardon Mofford) darted away from the pylons to control the tempo. After a :29.2 opener, Hugh Heff started his familiar overland journey from the three-eighths mark. He towed Shir Gain (Rodney Gillis) into contention second over, grinding away through middle panels of :59.1 and 1:27.4. Around the far turn, Getto asked Hugh Heff if he had something left in the tank and the answer received was affirmative. Pacing home in :29.2, Hugh Heff got up by three parts of a length over Kraken Seelster, with Shir Gain rounding out the top trio.

Owned by driver Getto, Susan MacSween and Wayne Hardy of Nova Scotia, Hugh Heff is now perfect in 10 starts since joining the Dana Getto barn. The four-year-old gelded son of Betterthancheddar-Danika Patrix has made 38 seasonal starts, winning 24 while hitting the board in 33 of those outings. With the win that lifted his lifetime earnings to $104,666, Hugh Heff extended his lead on the seasonal scores leaderboard, besting the 18 posted by Need Ur Opinion and 17 from Lloyds Loves and Downbytheparade to lead North America in that category.

Employing almost identical tactics, Eastcoast Invader ($5.70) prevailed impressively in the second $1,700 Governors Cup division. 

Monica Sutherland dropped 9/5 second choice Eastcoast Invader into fourth as Runaway Mystery (Harold Leblanc Jr.) fronted the field through a :29.2 opening quarter and backed down the tempo for a 1:00.1 half. Sutherland had Eastcoast Invader on the move and challenging by the half, and confidently powered to command through the 1:29.3 third panel. After landing back on the pylons, Eastcoast Invader scooted home in :29.1 for the 1:58.4 victory. Favoured Q Ts Charlie (Jeremy Baker) finished second back three lengths with Runaway Mystery staying for show.

Sutherland trains and co-owns Eastcoast Invader (Rollwithitharry - Manhattan Delight) along with Todd Sutherland of Port Hood, N.S. The seven-year-old gelding picked up with fourth win of the year and 22nd lifetime, with earnings now at $38,865.

The second leg of the Governor's Cup Series is set for Saturday, Nov. 2 with the $5,000 final and $3,000 consolation slated for Saturday, Nov. 9.

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

(Standardbred Canada)