Racing resumed in Woodstock, N.B. on Friday, June 30 with three-year-old pacers battling for a spot in the $37,000 Barrieau - McIsaac Stakes.
The top two finishers from three $6,000 eliminations along with a pair of third-place finishers drawn by lot will advance to the July 7 final. The other third-place finisher will start in the consolation.
Claude Poirier's homebred Starship Glyde (Patrick Shepherd) guaranteed his spot on the starting gate in the lucrative final with a two-minute mile in the first elimination, retaking the lead from Elm Grove Redwine (David Dowling) through the opening quarter and rebuffing first-over challenger Lookoveryour (Marc Campbell) to win by 1-1/2-lengths over those fillies. Earl Watts trains the Control The Moment-American Chocolate gelding, who has now won half of his 12 starts. Elm Grove Redwine shot up the inside to edge out favourite Lookoveryour for the runner-up honours.
Returning to the scene of her Dawn Bremner Memorial Stakes win earlier this month, Singing Ramona (David Dowling) took command from the inside post and held off the late rally of the popular gelding Bacononabiscuit (Marc Campbell) to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.1, with Woodmere Jade (Myles Hefferenan) third after recovering from her early miscue in the first turn and challenging for the lead down the backside. The homebred Sportswriter-Gilbird Hanover filly picked up her seventh career win from 17 starts for trainer Jamie Smith, who co-owns with Hubert MacDonald.
Trained and driven by Jason Hughes for owner Donald MacRae, Woodmere Dealer followed up his first stakes win in the Maritime Breeders last weekend at Charlottetown Driving Park with a 2:00.2 victory in the final Barrieau - McIsaac elimination. The Rollwithitharry-Very Ideal Hanover gelding cruised to a 1-3/4-length victory -- his seventh win from 20 starts -- over pocket-pursuer Howmac Charmer (Patrick Shepherd) and the wide-rallying filly Itsuptoyou (Mark Haig).
On the undercard, Privilege took the $2,500 Winners Over Pace by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:57.3 for his 25th career win with Todd Trites between the wheels for trainer George Rennison and owners Aiden Ferrisk and All For Fun Stable.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodstock Raceway NB.