It was an almost ideal night for racing at Cornerstone Raceway in Yorkton Friday, with warm temperatures, sunny skies and a fast track.
It was also a night for multiple winners, led by Richard Remillard
, who went to the winner's circle three times.
"Anytime you win three you've got to be happy. They're hard to get sometimes," he said.
Remillard has spent most of the summer racing in Manitoba, but rain in Deloraine left that track in such poor condition races were cancelled for the weekend, so he came to Yorkton for the night. Remillard said the Cornerstone Raceway track "was very good" and that was reflected in some fast times.
Remillard started with Miss Tinkerbelle in the first race on the nine-race card. Remillard took the three-year-old to top spot in the race for maidens, coming out ahead of Edward Tracey with Iza Bin Freezin, and Blake Piwniuk with Jomars Undapants.
"I like her [Miss Tinkerbelle]. She's a filly we bought...We bought her out of the field and broke her as a two-year-old," said Remillard.
Remillard said the mare was a handful to break, but is coming along as a three-year-old.
"I think she's going to be pretty good," he said, adding that it's always good to win with a horse you have put a lot of time into.
In Race 3 Remillard, 57, was back atop the list with Naknak Whodare. Clayton Braybrook with Starlite Diva was second, followed by Terry Kaufman in third with Sophio Hanover.
Remillard said Naknak Whodare is trained by Shawn Worthen, noting, "He usually has them ready."
"Catch driving is a lot of luck too," he added. "You have to hit the right horse at the right time and this trainer had him ready."
The third win for Remillard was in the fourth with Crush On Clinton, in a crisp 1:59.1, the best time of the Yorkton meet to date, although the mark would last only three races. Donald Tracey took Jomars Tami to the place position, with Piwniuk taking the show spot with Marlowe.
Remillard, who began driving at 17, so has 40-years of driving, said Crush On Clinton is a four-year-old mare he is part owner on, noting she has been pacing well in Manitoba, having had four straight top-three finishes, including a 2:01.4 win in Gilbert Plain a week ago.
"She's getting better every start," he said, adding the short-lived season-best time, was not a big surprise given recent action in Manitoba.
Tyler Redwood would establish a new meet best in the seventh, driving Black Mac to his fourth straight win, this time in a time of 1:59.
In the fifth race Redwood also topped the field with Judges Discretion.
Terry Kaufman also drove a pair of winners; Kinda Special in the second, and Red Star Best in the sixth.
For results from Friday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results - Yorkton Exhibition.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Calvin Daniels)