Atlantic Sires Stakes graduate Junebugs Baby blazed his way to a new Northside Downs track record with a career-best equalling 1:55.4 victory on Saturday afternoon in the top class for Fraser Turnbull and John Turnbull Jr.
Junebugs Baby lowered the track record for aged pacing stallions by one-fifth of a second. The former record of 1:56 was held by Chapter. It marked the second consecutive track record-breaking weekend in North Sydney, N.S. as gelding Major Dundee lowered the all-age record to 1:54.2, winning over Junebugs Baby last Saturday, July 6, while The Rev lowered the three-year-old colt record, set by Junebugs Baby last year, to 1:55.3 on the same card.
Driven by Fraser Turnball in this week's $1,150 Winners Over Pace, Junebugs Baby earned the first victory of his four-year-old campaign after wearing down pacesetter Great Luck (:28.4, :58.1, 1:26.4) with a :28.3 final frame in his fifth seasonal start. Favourite Major Dundee and Randy Getto came on for second, finishing one length behind the winner, while 44-1 longshot Great Luck and John Patrick Murphy settled for third.
Sent postward as the 3-2 second choice, Junebugs Baby paid $5.60 to win.
The homebred son of Western Paradise now sports a career record reading 15-7-1 in 26 starts with $60,305 banked in purse earnings.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.