Northside Downs kicked off its first harness racing card of 2013 on Saturday afternoon with the winners of all 10 races scoring for the first time this year.
All of Saturday's winners except for Art I Special were making their season's debut.
Art I Special earned his first win in four starts this year with a 1:57.2 front end effort in the featured pace. Trained and driven by Redmond Doucet for owner Randy Copley, the six-year-old Artsplace gelding won by three and three-quarter lengths over favourite Great Luck and Presidential Rage.
Driver John Beaton scored a driving double on the card as he steered back-to-back winners Reunion Account (2:04) and Tick Tack (2:03.4), who posted the biggest winning margin of the day with a seven and a half length tally for trainer-owner Danny Campbell.
Northside's 2012 leading driver Ryan Campbell also doubled up with Lonestar Hot Stuff (2:01.1) and Cashmere Lady (2:03), who scored her first win in almost three years.
Hillbilly Blues (2:02.4) pulled off the biggest upset on the card at odds of 15-1 with a half-length victory in the finale for trainer-driver Kenneth Passerini.
Saturday's other winners included first-time starter Camco Roulette ($5.90), Fex Education (1:59.2), Woodmere Comical (2:02), and Mystic Maier (2:02).
In qualifying action, Atlantic Breeders Crown and Maritime Breeders champion filly Carol Alice turned in a 2:00.1 winning mile in her sophomore debut with Edgar Jacobs aboard for owner-trainer Douglas Rankin. She defeated older pacers Tm Over The Top and Dvc Done Good. The daughter of Brandons Cowboy earned eight wins and five seconds in 14 starts as a freshman while banking $59,732 in purses and was named the divisional champion at the Cape Breton Island Horse Owner’s Association Awards.
Also making his qualifying debut, Cape Breton colt award winner Elm Grove Harley finished second behind older pacer Lucres Luck in a 2:03 mile. He finished over seven lengths behind, clocking his own mile in 2:04.2 for driver Greg Sparling and trainer Dennis MacNeil, who share ownership of the Coasttocoast Yankee colt.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following links: Saturday Results - Saturday Qualifiers.