Three-year-old pacing filly Warrawee Raven kicked off the 2016 harness racing meet at Northside Downs with her first career win on Saturday afternoon, May 14.
Driven by Ryan Campbell, Warrawee Raven won the first of eight races on Saturday in 2:04.4 by two lengths over pocket-sitter Miss Miss Miss Fit, with Electric Ponder coming on for third. The favoured Shadow Play filly, who broke her maiden in just her second career start, was acquired by trainer James Copley and owner Ann Copley this month after qualifying at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Northside's 2015 leading driver John Gerard Kennedy and trainer Heather Hawkins were Opening Day winners as they teamed up with Dreamfair Van Dam, on lease from P.E.I., to score in the next race. Once the 11-year-old Artsplace gelding made the lead past the half-mile mark, he took off to win by seven lengths in 2:00.3, with Sterling Seelster chasing in second and The Fascinator finishing third. The win was the pacer's first since 2014.
Recent Nova Scotia newcomer Euchred and trainer/driver Walter Walker won the featured finale, the $1,100 Winners Over top class, going wire-to-wire in 1:59.3 and returning $63.90 to backers. The four-year-old Shadow Play gelding earned his fourth victory of the year by two and three-quarters lengths over Putnams Power and Le Fugueur, while favourite Lyndale Royal was fourth-placed-eighth after causing interference while racing first over to a pair of other starters at the seven-eighths mark. The winner is owned by Kayla Habicht Walker.
William Seymour celebrated his first training win in his first start with 11-year-old Rambaran gelding J N J, driven by Roddy Hurley. J N J swept around early leader Elm Grove Eagle after the half and went on to score by four and a half lengths in 2:00.3. The Glace Bay, N.S. conditioner co-owns J N J with Arlene MacIntosh. Seymour also trains the aforementioned top class runner-up, Putnams Power.
Drivers Carey Romeo Jr. and Mike Heffernan Sr. each won back-to-back races on the program. The Heffernan stables' recent addition, eight-year-old Ginfromeartoear gelding Emerging Grin, was the fastest winner of the day with a 13-1/4 length romp in 1:58.2.
Live racing returns to Northside next Saturday, May 21 and continues into November.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.