Canada's winningest horse of 2024 is now Cape Breton's problem.
Picking up 14 wins over the first half of the year at tracks across Ontario, four-year-old gelding Hugh Heff is now owned by Nova Scotia-based connections and made his provincial debut on Saturday, Aug. 24 in the $1,600 Winners Over class at Northside Downs.
Jeremy Baker and Q Ts Charlie certainly didn't welcome Hugh Heff warmly. The rail starter gave post two challenger Hugh Heff and driver Randy Getto the cold shoulder with a parking ticket right off the hop. Hugh Heff and Getto weren't prepared to take the deuce, and they forged on to challenge for control.
Through stiff fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:26.4, Q Ts Charlie and Hugh Heff traded blows on the front end with neither pacer giving way. As the field hit the head of the lane, Hugh Heff showed his backclass and pulled away to a two-length tally with the mile timed in 1:57.1. Q Ts Charlie stayed for second with Thunder Alley (Gerard Kennedy) rounding out the top three.
Getto also owns Hugh Heff (Betterthancheddar - Danika Patrix) along with Susan Macsween of River Ryan and Wayne Hardy of Sydney, N.S. Trained by Dana Getto, Hugh Heff picked up his 23rd lifetime win and 15th win on Canadian soil this year. That total is tops among all Standardbreds and tied for second in North America for a win total this season. Pacing mares Need Ur Opinion (16 wins) and Lloyds Loves (15 wins) join Hugh Heff in that category.
As the 2-1 second choice, Hugh Heff returned $6.10 to win.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)