The New Brunswick harness racing season began on Saturday, June 18 at Exhibition Park Raceway and Magical Alex took top honours in the Opening Day feature.
Leaving from the inside post in the $1,350 Preferred 1 Pace, the nine-year-old Harrods gelding Magical Alex was able to avoid interference caused early on by breaker Only The Lonely and went wire-to-wire in 2:03 for driver Todd Trites and owner/trainer Robert MacNeil of Saint John. Skippy finished two and a quarter lengths behind in second and Fall Bliss was third.
The $1,100 Preferred 2 was won by Cecils Express, who swept from fourth to first by the third quarter mark and opened up two and a quarter lengths in rein to Scott Hubbard. The nine-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding posted the fastest winning time on the short five-race card with his 2:00 mile for Saint John trainer Randy Phillips and co-owner Matthew Phillips of Drayton, Alta.
Colin Decourcey opened the meet by winning his driving debut aboard Cruise Level. Decourcey also trains and co-owns the five-year-old Yankee Cruiser gelding, who was victorious in 2:03 in the first race, with Melanie Maunder of New Maryland, N.B. Cruise Level had also given the 29-year-old horseman his first training win on Canada Day last year at Fredericton Raceway.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Exhibition Park Raceway.