Connell Park in Woodstock, N.B. will host the richest race in its storied history on Friday night, Aug. 30 with the final of the Barrieau-McIsaac Memorial Stakes going for a purse of $50,000.
For the Barrieau-McIsaac final, the connections of last week's elimination winner, Jackies Boy, earned the opportunity to select the sophomore pacer's post position and have selected the coveted inside spot. Driven by Myles Heffernan Sr., Jackies Boy ended the win streak of Tobins Chester in a mild upset in the elimination with a track record mile of 1:56 for three-year-olds. Jackies Boy is owned and trained by Myles Heffernan Jr. of Montague, P.E.I. The homebred son of Tobago Cays went over $100,000 in lifetime earnings with his win last week and will be looking to bolster those earnings on Friday night.
Tobins Chester, owned by Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I., will leave post two in the final. Going into last week, the Shanghai Phil gelding had won seven straight races. Jason Hughes will be back in the bike as Tobins Chester seeks to avenge his loss for trainer Ashley Gamester. He's a winner of more than $121,000 lifetime.
Check Your Chip, another Heffernan trainee who was fifth in the elimination, will bust the gate from post three for driver Greg Bailey, co-owner with his son Lucas Heffernan-Bailey, who has become a star on the mini horse circuit in Atlantic Canada.
Merigo Magic, another six-figure lifetime earner in the field, will have regular reinsman Adam Merner in the sulky for trainer Melissa Rennie. The fourth-place elimination finisher is owned by the partnership of Mike May, Herman McQuaid, Derrick Cameron and Ian Walker.
New Brunswick-owned and bred Majestic Mason is campaigned by Stephen Downey of Quispamsis. The gelding with a lifetime mark of 1:57.2 over Connell Park has drawn post five and Mike Downey will pick up the catch-driving assignment for trainer Richard Armstrong. He will look to improve on his sixth-place showing in the elimination.
Allaboutthecash rounds out the field for the lucrative final in post six for catch-driver Brady Sweet and high percentage trainer Jeff Holmes (.491). The third-place elimination finisher is a homebred for Holmes and partners Trevor MacDonald, David MacDonald and Leonard Doyle.
More than $60,000 in purse money will be up for grabs over the seven-dash card on Friday night, with the final of the Barrieau-McIsaac Stakes going as race six. Post time is slated for 6 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - Woodstock Raceway NB.
(With files from Horse Racing New Brunswick)