Horse Racing New Brunswick will host The Maritimer Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock, N.B.

With two eliminations and a final all contested the same day, The Maritimer is one of the most unique races in the Maritimes.

Each elimination heat in races four and five carry a purse $8,530 with a final worth $11,370 in the eighth race. The lucrative stakes will include a total of 10 fillies chasing the title.

In the first elimination, Tobins Dream is listed as the 7-5 morning line favourite with Mark Haig catch-driving for trainer Kevin McLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I. A two-time stakes winner this year, the Stonebridge Terror-Putnam MacKenzie filly has earned nearly $45,000 in her sophomore campaign. The Ron Matheson-trained Isle Bea Wickedwon and Gilles Barrieau will have rail control.

Lady Hess is the 1-1 morning line favourite in the second elimination for trainer Jamie Smith with John Davidson getting the call to drive. Owned by Groupof7 Stable of Charlottetown, P.E.I., the Heston Blue Chip-Abes Lady filly captured the Dawn Bremner Memorial Stakes a week ago in 1:56 at Connell Park Raceway. Another Matheson contender, N.B. Breeders Stakes winner My Happy Place, drew inside with Barrieau set to drive.

Saturday will also feature the annual Rod Goguen Memorial for a purse of $6,000 and a competitive group of five pacers, including New Brunswick-owned House Edge Hanover for the tandem of Barrieau and Matheson. Owned by Everett Hanson of Maugerville, N.B., the four-year-old Betting Line-Hug A Dragoness gelding comes off a win at Red Shores Charlottetown over Preferred standouts Twin B Tuffenuff and Bee Two Bee. The 6-5 morning line favourite will leave from the outside post five. 

Four of the five starters are New Brunswick-owned with Saulsbrook Ian the only outside entry in the field from post three with Clare MacDonald driving the Jamie Smith trainee for P.E.I. connections. Trained by Ellen Stevenson, Nuttin But Finesse and Mike Downey have the inside post advantage and comes off a win in Woodstock last week.

A $4,630 division of the Atlantic Aged Mares Pacing Series is also carded as a non-wagering race with two distaffers entered.

Post time on Saturday is 1 p.m. (ADT). As always, admission and parking are free at Connell Park Raceway and wagering is available at regular outlets and on-site. 

To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodstock Connell Park.

(With files from Horse Racing New Brunswick)