Shekhan and Rose Knows Money scored solid victories in the inaugural Blood Money Stakes, held on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock, N.B.
Shekhan ($4.20) connected after a pocket ride from driver Redmond Doucet to capture the $12,000 division for sophomore males. After a two-hole ride behind Smilin With Lou (Pooker McCallum) through fractions of :30.4, 1:02.3 and 1:32.2, Shekhan started his move at that three-quarter mark and wore down the pacesetter in the stretch for the 2:02.2 score over a track listed as good with a two-second variant. Smilin With Lou finished three parts of a length back in second while favoured Do Or Die (Mark Haig) was a non-factor and rounded out the top trio.
Shekhan (Blood Money-Just Breathe) picked up his fourth win of the year and seventh lifetime, with earnings approaching $95,000. Mike Ramsay trains the bay for owner Walter Deagle of Inverness, N,S.
Rose Knows Money ($10.50) made every call a winning one for driver Keith Legge and trainer George Rennison in the $12,000 Blood Money division for pacing fillies. After uncontested panels of :29.3, 1:01.3 and 1:32.3, Rose Knows Money closed in an even half-minute for the 2:02.3 tally. Nevaeh Divine (Doucet) was next best, 2-1/2 lengths in arrears, with favoured Going For Blood (Ken Arsenault) in for for third.
Owned by the Estate of Roderick Smith of Inverness, Rose Knows Money (Blood Money-Rose Knows) notched her seventh career victory to lift her career earnings over the $33,000 mark.
The Blood Money Stakes, which was was supposed to be conducted last year, was postponed due to extenuating circumstances. The stakes event is for three-year-old colts and fillies that are sired by Blood Money and raced at age two.
Storm Shadow ($12.70) pounced on a vulnerable Party Place and outkicked stablemate Nuttin But Finesse to prevail in the $2,000 Winners Over top overnight class. After Party Place (Legge) parked favoured Whats In The Esky A (Colin Decourcey) through stiff opening fractions of :28.4 and :59.4, Nuttin But Finesse (Mike Downey) popped the pocket down the backside and take his shot at the leader through a 1:31 third station. Driver Sam Hodgin angled Storm Shadow into the three path from third around the far turn and the classy veteran powered home through the stretch for the 2:01.3 decision. Nuttin But Finesse finished 1-1/4 lengths back for the place honours with Party Place in for show dough.
Ellen Stevenson trains Storm Shadow, now a 10-time winner in his career, for Dr. Mitch Downey of Saint John, N.B. A five-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Fade, Storm Shadow's earnings now stand at $616,809.
Live harness racing returns to Connell Park next Saturday, Nov. 14 for the track's final card of 2026. To view Saturday's results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Connell Park Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)