The Saturday card of harness racing at Northside Downs featured the final of the Governor's Cup Pacing Series, with three-time defending champion Southwind Ricardo sent off as the public choice. It would appear, however, that there's a new king to lay claim to that throne.
A field of six pacers lined up in the $5,000 Governor's Cup Final with the majority of the support going to Southwind Ricardo and Intended Royalty, the two horses that swept the series legs. Intended Royalty and driver Redmond Doucet were able to outsprint rail-sitting Southwind Ricardo and Brett Leblanc into the first turn, with the favourites lining up 1-2 through a :28.4 opening quarter.
With no challengers, Doucet backed down the pace heading to the half and reached that mark in :58.4. Kiss Me Im Irish (Mark Pezzarello) created some outer flow from the back of the pack but couldn't advance enough to flush cover or intimidate the pacesetter. After a 1:28 third quarter, Doucet pushed the turbo button on Intended Royalty and the pacer replied with a :28.3 final panel to win by more than two lengths in 1:56.3. Southwind Ricardo chased in vain from the pocket and held off Johnnie Jack (Greg Sparling) for the place position.
Randy Copley trains and co-owns Intended Royalty (No Pan Intended - Renees Queen) along with Eddie Copley of Inverness, N.S. That's win number 11 from 19 seasonal starts and 46th lifetime tally for Intended Royalty, who sports lifetime earnings of nearly $127,000.
A harness racing rarity occurred in the $3,000 Governor's Cup consolation as the five-horse field finished in post order. Sweet City Girl and driver John Hawco enjoyed a pocket trip behind pacesetter Dashpedia (Doucet) through the first three quarters of the mile and then slid out into the three path around the final turn to blow past first-over challenger Eastwardho Fun (Alex MacDonald) in the stretch and win by nearly four lengths in 1:58.2.
Now a seven-time winner this season, four-year-old Sweet City Girl (Dali - Precious Shopper) is trained by Hawco for owner Thomas Hawco, Jr. of Sydney, N.S.
Northside concludes its 2020 season next Saturday (Nov. 14).
For the results from Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.