The Maritimer tradition continues Saturday, August 25 at Exhibition Park Raceway. The $32,350 event is posed to host the best fillies in the region at the port city oval.
The late Doug Harkness, noted award-winning journalist, penned it as the supreme test of fillies in the region in his Atlantic Post Calls journal. It is the only race in Canada for fillies that have elimination and final on the same day. Saturday is only the second time this season the fillies will meet with an overall winner declared (Malabrigo holds the first one' a 1.57.2 win over AAs Glory at the Charlottetown Driving Park in June).
Leading the fillies into the Saturday feature race is Malabrigo p, 3, 1.56.4 with life earning of over $97,000 exclusively in the Maritimes. She is owned by Buntainwood Farms of Brackley Beach PE. Malabrigo could well become the third filly in this race’s history to go over $100,000 in life's earning. She is a full sister to 2008 winner For the Luv Abunny. This talented filly is nine-for-nine in 2012 and trained and driven by rising star Marc Campbell. Dennis Baxter a breeder from Nova Scotia enjoyed setting the benchmark for the Maritimer, as his Woodmere Teardrop still co-owns the Maritimer record of 1.58.1(h). His broodmare, Lots Abunny, is the dam of For the Luv Abunny and Malabrigo. Malabrigo was foaled and raised at the Mt. Hebron, New Brunswick standardbred nursery Charlotte Ranch and continues a winning tradition where champions are raised.
In 2011, Moon Landing equalled the stakes and track record for three-year-old fillies and was the loan locally-owned filly entered. The 2012 edition has a least five with local connections, including AAs Glory (who won over Charlottetown recently in 1.56.3 for owner, trainer and breeder Andrew Ward, a city native) who is a winner of over $22,000 this season. She has won four of nine starts this season, setting up as the main contender for this week’s venue. Windemere Nancy, owned by Painting the Town Stable of Quispamsis, NB, is fresh off a victory in the Lady Slipper Gold stakes where she paced in 1.57.3. Sam Hodgin's homebred filly B Anne Legacy a five-time winner in 2012, and the Gilles Barrieau trainees Ruby Vance and JJ Bria, who was charted in 1.57 in the Stanfield Stakes at Truro Raceway, are part of the action. Barrieau has driven the winners of the Maritimer on four occasions, including the two-heat record with Cookie Lighting in 3.57.1 owned by Mel Land of Hillsborough in 2001.
Paul Emile Bernard of Moncton is no stranger to horse racing. His family was prominent in the day-to-day racing activity at the old Brunswick Downs and Champlain Raceway in Dieppe. They campaign many top horse and thrilled fans throughout the Maritimes. They develop young horses, including fan favourite Tasty Treat who had over 70 top-three finishes. Paul enjoyed a UDR of more than .350 on nine different years from 1971 to 1994. Paul trained and drove Hustling Hectare in the Maritimes stakes program during the '90s. It is nice to see his return with Putnams Glory in 2012. This filly has been no worse than third in her last six starts and shows more than $17,000 on her card. Paul Emile's training record stands at a sensational .504 with her. The filly was a bang-up second in the Atlantic Sires Stakes' 'A-class' action two weeks ago at Charlottetown. She heads to this Saturday's Maritimer stakes where she has drawn Post 3.
IsleofPalms, Tobins Knockout, Heap of Faith, April Dawn Star, Southfield Sophie along with Black River Nannie all stakes-placed fillies round out this star-studded class.
From any point of view, the 2012 edition is loaded with talent. EPR will serve up this afternoon delight. Standardbred Canada and New Brunswick Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association continue co-hosting this nostalgic format, where one filly will have to overcome her elimination and a final race on the same day to be crowned the winner.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at EPR, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Exhibition Park Raceway.
(NBSBOA)