Now racing at Rideau Carleton, North America's hottest mare Vines To Heaven is chasing her seventh straight win tonight (April 10) at the Ottawa oval.
With eight victories so far in 2022, the seven-year-old daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven is the winningest mare in North America. Vines To Heaven is currently tied for most wins with four-year-old pacing gelding Linedrive Hanover in Canada and U.S.-based pacing gelding Mibwest Kid atop the overall leaderboard.
Trainer Michael Armstrong welcomed the streaking mare to his stable five wins ago. Claimed three times this year, she's now racing for a $31,250 tag.
"I guess it's just the routine she likes here or something," said Armstrong in an interview with Rideau's Graeme Mitchell. "Everything has been great. Her and [driver] Sam [Fillion] have got along phenomenal. The trips that he's given her... like even the other night from the eight-hole, I didn't think there was much hope and to work out a second-over trip like he did, everything's just been great for her, the drives. Everything. We've just been lucky to have her."
Armstrong said the goal for the current connections is for Vines To Heaven to head to the East Coast to race this summer for owners Aiden Ferrish of Summerside, P.E.I., Ian MacDonald and Clarissa Maher of Lower Sackville, N.S., and Andrea Rennison of Truro, N.S.
In the interview, Armstrong also discussed his background in harness racing and the start of the 2022 season for the 11-horse stable he manages with Rachel Burns, including a pair of two-year-olds in training.
Vines To Heaven will search for her ninth win of the year in Sunday's 15th race finale. First race post time is 6:30 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Rideau Carleton Raceway.