The Sunday, Nov. 4 program at Northside Downs featured three $1,200 divisions for the second preliminary of the Governors Cup Series.
Odds-on favourite Burn Em Up Burr brushed to the top heading into the final turn and posted a 2:01.3 victory in the first split of the Governors Cup.
The Heather Hawkins owned and trained son of Whosurboy sat third through a :28 first quarter set by Elm Grove Ladyluck before tipping first over into a :59.2 half. Burn Em Up Burr pulled a neck ahead of Elm Grove Ladyluck passing three-quarters in 1:30.1 and expanded his lead heading into the stretch. Tipperbackjack rallied from third over for second while J N J, sitting the pocket, sneaked into third.
Gerard Kennedy drove the seven-year-old gelding to his seventh win in 24 starts this season and his 22nd in 143 overall and pushed him towards $70,000 in career earnings. He paid $3.70 to win.
Southwind Ricardo capitalized off a rail trip to best rail-starter Windmeredontmatter in the second division of the Governors Cup.
The five-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again tucked into fourth as Im A Sumbunnie pressed Windmeredontmatter for the lead past a :29.1 opening quarter. With the top two dueling for control through a :59.1 half and a 1:29.4 third quarter, Southwind Ricardo vacated the pylons in the stretch and lunged to the front nearing the wire to finish one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of second-place finisher Windmeredontmatter. Brother John, sitting the pocket, took third.
Owned by trainer Harold Le Blanc along with partners Joel Le Blanc and William Seymour, Southwind Ricardo won his fifth race from 25 starts this season and his 18th from 104 overall, earning $87,349. Brett LeBlanc piloted the $9.50 winner.
Going wire to wire, Makes Me Stupid prevailed as the odds-on favourite in the final Governors Cup division with a 2:01.2 victory.
Leaving from post one, Makes Me Stupid owned a two-length lead on Dreamfair Van Dam past a :30 opening quarter. Bonnys Mac, positioned fourth, angled first over after the pacesetter towards a 1:01.2 half. Makes Me Stupid then parked Bonnys Mac on the second circuit and to three-quarters in 1:31.2. Bonnys Mac remained to the outside of the Anthony Beaton owned and trained son of Art Official into the stretch but stalled and finished three-quarter lengths behind the winner while Dreamfair Van Dam held third.
Redmond Doucet drove the seven-year-old gelding to his sixth win from 29 starts this season and his 26th from 160 overall, earning $71,466. He paid $3.80 to win.
Gotfaithincowboys took the $875 Winners-Over Pace going wire to wire in 2:03.4. The eight-year-old Angus Gillis owned and trained mare by Brandons Cowboy posted fractions of :29.1, 1:01.4 and 1:32 as he held on by three-quarter lengths on the line over Tiger Town rallying from third over for second and Kennairn Fame kicking from second over for third.
Angus Bates steered the $17.90 winner to her sixth victory in 23 starts this season and her 31st in 139 overall, earning $30,089.
In the Northside Downs vs. Inverness Raceway Drivers' Challenge, Redmond Doucet remains on top of the leaderboard through the second prelim of the contest despite finishing fourth and sixth in the two divisions. Ryan Campbell moved from fifth into fourth with a second and third-place finish on the card while Gerard Kennedy crept closer to the top by winning the first division behind Silverhilldiamond. Andrew MacLean still trails the contest even though he won the second division with Southwind Jagger.
Below is the current standings after leg two:
1. Redmond Doucet (40 points)
2. Mark Pezzarello (38 points)
3. Gerard Kennedy (38 points)
4. Ryan Campbell (32 points)
5. Rodney Gillis (28 points)
6. Andrew MacLean (24 points)
The participating drivers will compete in two divisions of the final preliminary which will be contested on Saturday, Nov. 10. The reinsmen will battle to be the top driver on the island and will win a helmet painting donated by Leblanc Design and a gift card towards a uniform from Grahams Racing Silks.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Northside Downs.