Nova Scotia Governor's Cup Series first leg winners Ranked Contender and Hugh Heff faced off in the second round, with the former coming out on top in racing action this weekend at Northside Downs on a card pushed forward a day to Sunday, Nov. 2 following weather concerns.

Ranked Contender was a repeat winner in the series, taking the first and fastest of two $1,700 divisions in round two on Sunday afternoon with a 1:58.4 mile over the 'good' track conditions for driver Aidan Dicks and owner/trainer Peter MacKinnon.

As Hugh Heff, the 4-5 favourite driven by Randy Getto, advanced from the back of the five-pack, Ranked Contender followed his cover with Shir Gain (Rodney Gillis) leading the way through fractions of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:28.3. As they turned for home, Ranked Contender rallied three-wide for the stretch drive and defeated his rivals by 1-1/4 lengths. Hugh Heff settled for second while pocket-sitter Pay Line (Ryan Campbell) took third as the pacesetter levelled off in the lane.

Ranked Contender paid $11.70 to win. The five-year-old Tobago Cays-Euphoria Seelster gelding, who has won five of his last six starts and eight of 23 on the year, will be looking for a series sweep next Saturday in the $5,000 final.

The lone mare in the series, Red Rum She Wrote, inherited the victory in the second division when first-place finisher Whats Up Doc was disqualified as the winner and placed fourth for causing interference in the first turn.

Parked from the outside post six, trainer/driver Angus Bates's distaffer advanced overland as Whats Up Doc and Zach Mullins left for the lead into a contested :28.1 opening quarter, crossing in front of Dontblvmejustwatch (Randy Getto) then pocketing Igot Socks (Rodney Gillis). Red Rum She Wrote progressed first-up to meet Whats Up Doc on top in the second panel and challenged through middle splits of :58.3 and 1:28. While Whats U Doc drew 2-1/4-lengths clear at the end of the mile, reaching the wire in 1:59 flat, a judges inquiry into the racing action in the first turn produced a new order of finish. 

When crossing to command in the first turn, Whats Up Doc had caused interference to inside starter Dontblvmejustwatch, prompting the placing. Red Rum She Wrote was deemed the winner with her mile time clocked in 1:59.2 while Igot Socks and Dontblvmejustwatch were bumped up to second and third, respectively.

Red Rum She Wrote paid $7.70 to win. A runner-up in the opening leg to Hugh Heff, the eight-year-old Vintage Master-So Cute Hanover mare earned her eighth win of the season in 25 starts.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Northside Downs.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Ranked Contender)