The 19th edition of The Maritimer, the second jewel of the Maritime Triple Crown for three-year-old pacing fillies, has attracted 12 starters and will head to post Saturday afternoon at the Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, New Brunswick. A total of $27,630 in purses is up for grabs.

The event has attracted 12 of the finest fillies in the region. The Maritimer will be raced in heats on Saturday --- the same format that the famed Hambletonian returned to this year. The card will also showcase the national racing promotion 'Bring A Friend to the Races' (more information on the promotion appears at the bottom of this story).

All of the fillies that have been entered to contest The Maritimer have paced faster than 2.00 in their careers, and many have paced a mile faster than Saint John’s track record for three-year-old fillies (1.58.2), which is co-held by Woodmere Teardrop, Moon Landing and JK Beauty (Note: Woodmere Teardrop and Moon Landing paced their EPR track-record miles while competing in The Maritimer. Cookies Lighting also co-holds The Maritimer stakes record of 1.58.2, but her record mile was recorded when the race was contested at Fredericton Raceway. Cookies Lighting also holds the Maritime and Maritimer two-heat record of 3.57.1).

Ramblinglily, owned by Alan Jones and Normand Leger, will try her best to lower the stakes records on Saturday. She is currently the top point earner in her division of the Atlantic Sires Stakes. Ramblinglily won the first leg of the Maritime Triple Crown for three-year-old pacing fillies, the $25,000 Maritime Breeders, in 1.56.1 at the Charlottetown Driving Park earlier this summer.

Ramblinglily will be joined by Dont Tell Cindy (Tell All-Theresa Hall), who was PEI's two-year-old of the year in 2012 and was recently a 1.59.1, wire-to-wire winner in the Stanfield Stakes at Truro Raceway. She is trained by the Earl Watts Stable of PEI.

Mike Campbell trainee Rose Valley has also been entered. She won her division of the Lady Slipper Gold on Friday evening in a new record of 1.56.

Scootin For Joy has been entered, and she recently defeated Ramblinglily in the Stanfield. 'Scootin's sire, Western Paradise, has produced two previous winners of the Maritimer, including the 2012 winner, Malabrigo.

The ultra-consistent Ultimate Cowgirl, who has never been out of the money, has also been entered. She was victorious this past Friday night in the Lady Slipper Gold at the Charlottetown Driving Park, which she won in 1.56.3.

Carol Alice, who has won in 1.59.1, is the Maritime Breeders Crown and Maritime Breeders champion two-year-old of 2012. She recently won her division of the Stanfield at Truro Raceway.

Putnams Kream, a fast-closing filly from the stable of Bernard McCallum, has been entered, as has Top Brand, a Danny Romo trainee that holds a lifetime mark of 1.59.2. Skip the Exam has also been entered --- she has been individually timed in 1.57.3. Putnams Snap is also scheduled to be in contention, as is Pownal Bay Magic. Western Judy, who is coming in off a seasonal best 1.58.1 romp, will also contest the popular stakes event.

Saturday will be the only instance this year in the Maritimes where this group of fillies will tangle in elimination heat and final on the same day. The Maritimer is co-sponsored by Standardbred Canada and the New Brunswick Standardbred Breeders and Owners.

Some call it a showcase of the best in Atlantic Canada, while others call it the supreme test of fillies in the region. One thing is for sure: they will all have to bring their 'A' game to have a shot at winning.

As part of a Canadian-wide initiative taking place over the next few days, Horse Racing New Brunswick is pleased to host the Bring A Friend to the Races promotion this Saturday.

There will be loads of activities for both new and future fans such as:

• paddock tours (after races)
• an 'Ask-Me' person
• Meet the Drivers (plus photos) before races (at the promo booth --- between betting station and patio - 12:00)
• Bring A Friend registration (at the promo booth)
• BBQ (free hotdog for those registered for event)
• Handicapping workshop station (at the promo booth - 11:30)
• Draw box for starting-gate ride, watch from the judges stand and other prizes (at the promo booth)
• Winner’s Circle emcee
• Bouncy Pony race
• Free program and $2 betting voucher for first 50 participants registered
• SJHHA will be donating $250 worth of gas for a grand prize draw. Participants must enter this contest before the third race and must be present after the last race to win.

You can register by clicking here.

First-race post time is at 1:00 p.m., to view entries click the following link: Saturday Entries - Exhibition Park raceway.

(With files from New Brunswick Standardbred Breeders and Owners, Inc. and HRNB)