Get the popcorn ready: the top class at Northside Downs this summer is shaping up to be required viewing every Saturday afternoon.

After impressive back-to-back wins in Cape Breton, Mappos Lion roared his way to the top of the charts and earned 1-9 favouritism in the weekly $1,700 Winners Over feature on Saturday, July 12. Hugh Heff, the winningest Standardbred of 2024 and local kingpin, had his seven-race win streak dating to last year snapped soundly one week ago by Mappos Lion.

Those two pacers factored quite prominently in Saturday's feature.

With Kiss Me Im Irish (Mark Pezzarello) showing her usual gate speed to gain early forward position, pressure came in the form of an amped-up Hugh Heff and driver Randy Getto. Usually saddled with the outside post and forced to take back early, Getto and Hugh Heff targeted the top from post three and eventually cleared to the front parked through a :28.1 first quarter.

Mappos Lion and Lewis MacDonell pressed that pace and traded blows with Hugh Heff through a :56.2 half and 1:25.2 third station, opening up more than six lengths on the competition. Neither pacer appeared ready to concede until the far turn when MacDonell angled Mappos Lion back into the vacant pocket. Getto kept Hugh Heff to task, and the 7-2 second choice gutted out a 1:56 victory to best Mappos Lion by just over a length. Kiss Me Im Irish completed the triactor.

Trained by Dana Getto for Nova Scotia-based owners Randy Getto of New Waterford, Susan Macsween of River Ryan and Wayne Hardy of Sydney, Hugh Heff bumped his seasonal record to 7-1-0 in eight appearances. The win was the 39th in the career of the five-year-old altered son of Betterthancheddar - Danika Patrix, bumping his bankroll to $112,651, and on this occasion he returned a healthy $9.20.

To view the full charts from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)