Cruisinart went all the way to win the featured $1,000 Open Pace at Northside Downs, providing trainer-driver Myles Heffernan with one of his four wins on the 13-race Saturday afternoon program
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The favoured eight-year-old Real Artist gelding took control from post position five during a :29.1 opening quarter and led the rest of the way through panels of :59.2 and 1:30.4 before stopping the clock in 2:01.4 over the track rated four seconds slow. Cruisinart, owned by Johnny Heffernan of Reserve Mines, N.S., held off first over challenger Game Zac (Alex MacNeill) for the half-length victory, his seventh in 11 seasonal starts. Accelerated Putnam (Shawn Lynk) rallied from last to show.
Heffernan also won the $600 Fillies & Mares Pace with 17-1 longshot Canaco Quinella, a seven-year-old Riverboat Kind mare who earned her first win of the season in 2:04 by five lengths for owner Brian O’Donnell of New Waterford, N.S.
Northside’s leading trainer and driver picked up two more victories with three-year-old Ss Sand Dollar colt Liams Legacy and five-year-old J T Western gelding This Is Your Night, who earned his fifth consecutive win.
For results from Saturday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results – Northside Downs.