Horse Racing New Brunswick played host to its second card of the season at Connell Park in Woodstock, N.B. on Saturday, June 17 featuring two divisions of the New Brunswick Breeders Stakes for three-year-old pacers.
In total, six races were live and streamed this week, with Horse Racing New Brunswick getting things ironed out for the card and moving forward with livestream coverage.
Last year's New Brunswick filly champion at two, Nannie Bernice was an easy winner in the $13,000 New Brunswick Breeders Stakes for three-year-old fillies. Catch-driver Todd Trites sent the Artspeak daughter to the lead and never looked back. She led all the way through panels of :31, 1:03.4, 1:35.2 and was on cruise control in 2:04.4. Time And Again was second with Silent Movie Star third.
Nannie Bernice (Artspeak - Favorite Odds) is owned, trained and was bred by Janice Hubbard. The filly now sports a career summary of 8-1-2 from 11 lifetime starts with more than $34,000 in earnings. She paid $2.20 to win.
New Shooter shot off the Pure Country 104 starting gate for Todd Trites, who made his way to victory lane for his third win of the day in the $13,000 New Brunswick Breeders colt division. New Shooter set down fractions of :29, 1:00.4 as Miramichi Walter sat on his back. Three quarters was reached in 1:32 and Miramichi Walter challenged the pacesetter in the final quarter but couldn't take down New Shooter. Time of the mile was 2:01.4, with Miramichi Walter finishing second, and Hyperventilate grabbing the show dough in the rich stake. The winner returned $2.30 on a $2 win ticket.
The win for New Shooter (All Bets Off - Pangoon), his third straight, put his lifetime earnings over the $10,000 for trainer George Rennison and owners Dan Belliveau and Brady Doyle. The colt was bred in Sussex, New Brunswick by the Charlotte Ranch.
Trites picked up his fourth win of the day and helped complete the Rennison triple in the final dash on the card. The classy American Risk prevailed in the Winners Over Pace, stopping the clock in 1:58.3.
American Risk fronted the field through splits of :28.4, :59, 1.29.4. Bettim Again, back in the Maritimes after an Ontario circuit journey, sat in the two hole for driver John Davidson after an early park. They tested American Risk and Trites a couple of times in the mile but were turned away each time and could only muster second. Windsong Napoleon finished third.
Owned by Risky Bizz Group, Truro, N.S., seven-year-old American Risk (American Ideal - Kissin Bandit) sports 30 career victories with earnings in excess of $106,000. As the 3-5 favourite, he returned $2.60 to win.
Next race card at Connell Park goes on June 30, a Friday night as the Barrieau-McIsaac eliminations are featured. Post time is slated for 6:30 p.m.
For results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Connell Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodstock, N.B.
(with files from HRNB)