Eight of the best open class pacers in Cape Breton will assemble in one week's time after eliminations for the 2019 J.A. Ferguson Memorial were contested on Saturday (July 20) at Northside Downs.
Two $1,500 eliminations were carded, with the winners finding very different ways to cross under the wire first.
Favoured Elm Grove Ladyluck (Ryan Campbell) fronted the field through panels of :28.3, :58.1 while facing the pressure of Burn Em Up Burr (Gerard Kennedy), with Wildcat Jet (Mark Pezzarello) positioned perfectly in the pocket. As the field approached the third quarter, Burn Em Up Burr was unable to sustain that bid and allowed Wildcat Jet to emerge from the pocket through a 1:28.2 third station. Pezzarello finessed his horse and around the final turn with a measured approach and took aim at the leader in the stretch. With a final quarter of :29, Wildcat Jet powered past the pacesetter and hit the wire in a lifetime best 1:57.3. Elm Grove Ladyluck stayed for second, ahead of Accelerator (Greg Sparling) and Makes Me Stupid (John Wille Beaton).
Trained and owned by Brian O'Donnell of New Waterford, N.S., Wildcat Jet (Jeremes Jet - Art Expo) picked up his third win of the season and pushed his summary to 3-6-1 in 11 seasonal starts.
The second elimination was more action-packed than the first and provided more toteboard fireworks as Nikes Cowgirl upset the field as the longest shot on the board.
Jamie Struthers settled Nikes Cowgirl away in sixth early as Windsong Katie (Barry Bates) made the first call in :28.3 ahead of Brother John (Randy Getto). Buttons (Ryan Campbell) made a break but reset and forged on, landing on the lead at the spicy :57.3 half. Dreamfair Van Dam (Kennedy) was left first up to challenge, with Brother John able to find room and set up second over, with Nikes Cowgirl third over and then three-wide heading into the backstretch. Dreamfair Van Dam found the front through a 1:28 third quarter but Nikes Cowgirl had the afterburners engaged and was ready for a fight. Advancing into second around the final turn, Nikes Cowgirl sailed past Dreamfair Van Dam in deep stretch to prevail by a quarter length in 1:58.4. Dreamfair Van Dam, Eastview Dexter (Pezzarello) and Brother John also punched tickets to the Ferguson final.
Trained and owned by James N. Struthers of Port Morien, N.S., Nikes Cowgirl (Brandons Cowboy - Nikes Magic) picked up the second win of her six-year-old campaign and 21st lifetime. She sits just shy of $19,000 in earnings.
The top four finishers from each elim qualify for the $2,500 Final, slated for one week from today on Saturday, July 27.
Earlier on the card pacing veteran Fex Education picked up his first victory of the year, wire-to-wire in 1:59.4 for trainer-owner Heather Hawkins and driver Gerard Kennedy, to give the 12-year-old Sir Luck gelding his 50th lifetime win.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Northside, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.