Delivering the mile of his life before rains altered the track conditions, Ranked Contender won of the fastest of the two $1,700 Nova Scotia Governor's Cup Series first leg divisions on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Northside Downs.

The first division — carded as the fifth race —  had the benefit of better conditions, as heavy rains prompted officials to abandon the card in advance of the final dash, with judges downgrading the track to sloppy for the second division in the ninth.

Regardless of the conditions, Ranked Contender stamped himself as a major contender in the 2025 Governor's Cup Series with his impressive tally to kick off the festivities. Aidan Dicks dropped the pacer in the pocket behind favoured Kraken Seelster (Ardon Mofford) through fractions of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:28, popped the pocket around the far turn and then pulled away from the public choice to win by three lengths in a lifetime best 1:56.4. Kraken Seelster stayed for second with Pay Line (Roddy Gillis) in the show spot.

A five-year-old son of Tobago Cays - Euphoria Seelster, Ranked Contender picked up his 10th career tally for owner-trainer Peter MacKinnon of Sydney, N.S. He returned $16.60 to win.

The wet conditions weren't an issue for favoured Hugh Heff ($2.40) in the second division, as the popular pacer professionally navigated the sloppy surface for a 2:01.4 score.

Driver Randy Getto settled the public choice away in fourth early as Igot Socks (Rodney Gillis) splashed through fractions of :30.1 and :59.4. Red Rum She Wrote, pressing first over from before the half for driver Martin Bates, finally stuck a neck in front at the 1:30.1 third station but couldn't clear. Getto slid Hugh Heff into the three path around the far turn, and the prolific pacer put away his rivals in the stretch to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Red Rum She Wrote bested Igot Socks for the runner-up spot.

Now a 48-time winner in his career with 16 victories in 2025, Hugh Heff is trained by Dana Getto for owners Randy Getto of New Waterford, Susan MacSween of River Ryan and Wayne Hardy of Sydney, N.S. The five-year-old altered son of Betterthancheddar - Danika Patrix lifted his bankroll to $121,125 in the process.

Ranked Contender wasn't the only participant with a career-best day on Saturday as trainer Jamie Hogan sent out three horses and had his picture taken with each. His afternoon started with the appropriately-named Wenitrainsitpours (2:00.1; $14.40), a winner in the second race. He made it back-to-back wins with Regally Magnified (2:02; $20.50) and finished the afternoon with a big grin on his face courtesy Classic Smiley (2:02.2; $4.60) in the eighths.

The Scotchtown, N.S. resident now sports eight wins on the season and a 30-36-31 from his 187 lifetime starts.

To view the full results for the Saturday card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)