It took more than some moisture from Mother Nature to dampen the spirits of the harness racing community in New Brunswick as live racing returned to Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B. on Saturday (June 6).
There were six races carded on the afternoon. The first feature of the day was a $1,100 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, and that event was captured by a late addition to the race. Heading into the card, a driver change on Pickpocketprincess was announced, as trainer Wayne Hubbard gave up the lines to the 'Maritime Magic Man' Gilles Barrieau. Barrieau, who had planned to compete at Red Shores in Prince Edward Island but was denied entry to PEI earlier this week, made a surprise appearance at his old stomping grounds and made it count by guiding Pickpocketprincess to a gate-to-wire 2:02.2 score in her four-year-old debut.
Hubbard bred and also owns Pickpocketprincess (Varadero Hanover - Julie Gilmore) , now a 10-time winner in her career.
City Of The Year (Dr. Mitch Downey) showed the off-track wasn't going to stand in his way of a successful 2020 debut in the $1,200 Winners Over Pace, forging first up from before the half against pacesetter Woodmere Ideal Art (Robert Laffin) before wearing down the leader around the final turn and holding off his challengers in a 2:01 mile.
Ellen Stevenson trains City Of The Year (Royal Mattjesty - What Fools Believe) for owner Dr. Downey. The eight-year-old gelding picked up his 20th lifetime victory in the process.
The Saturday opener was the first of 10 race dates for Exhibition Park in 2020. Racing continues for the next two Saturdays in June before taking a week off to host a special Canada Day card on Wednesday, July 1.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Exhibition Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Exhibition Park Raceway.