A quartet of $15,000 New Brunswick Breeders Stakes headlined the Monday, Aug. 4 card at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock, N.B. Both divisions for two and three-year-old pacers highlighted the 10-race card.
The two-year-old pacing fillies kicked off the stakes action in the third race, where Going For Blood cruised as the 1-20 favourite. Away third from the rail through a quarter of :28.3 with trainer Kenny Arsenault in the bike, Going For Blood moved up to second when Nevaeh Divine (Colin Sheppard) jumped it off from the pocket. Going For Blood stalked Blood Magic (Mike Downey) through middle-half fractions of 1:00.4 and 1:31.4 before moving around the pacesetter in the stretch and drawing away by 3-1/2 lengths to win in 2:02.1. Blood Magic held for second, with Navaeh Divine rebounding from the early miscue to be third.
Owned by Peter Smith of Stratford, P.E.I. and Gerald Morrissey of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Going For Blood has won two of five races in her rookie campaign. The daughter of Blood Money-Rolling Going Gone has banked $12,831.
Three-year-old pacing colts were next, with DJ Mustang going gate-to-wire as the 8-5 second choice. Driver Marc Campbell got DJ Mustang to the top from post two through a quarter of :28, before leading unchallenged to fractions of :58.2 and 1:28. Like A King (David Dowling) moved first-over to challenge, but DJ Mustang would not be caught, winning by two lengths in 1:57.3. Like A King held for second, with pocket-sitter Miramichi Charlie (Adam Merner) finishing third.
The son of Betterthancheddar-Kellys Keepsake has won three of his 11 starts on the year, banking $19,846 in seasonal earnings for owners Brady Doyle of Stratford, P.E.I., and Dan Belliveau, Halifax, N.S. DJ Mustang is trained by Landon Campbell and has won five of 22 races lifetime for career earnings of $34,651.
Fire And Blood gave sire Blood Money a sweep of the two-year-old divisions, taking the rookie pacing colt division following a first-over brush. Fire And Blood and trainer/driver Mike Downey got away third while Tiziano (Clare MacDonald) worked around Mr Harris (Adam Merner) to reach the quarter first in :29.1. The pace slowed to the half in 1:00.3 when Fire And Blood moved to the top and cleared before getting to three-quarters in 1:31.2. From there, Fire And Blood paced home in :29.2 to hold Tiziano at bay by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.4. McLovin (Kenny Arsenault) rallied to be third.
Downey also trains Fire And Blood for owner Dr. Mitchell Downey of Saint John, N.B. The son of Blood Money-Pangoon has won two of three on the year and banked $11,075 following his career-best mile.
My Happy Place concluded the stakes action with a dominant effort in the sophomore filly pace. Quickly grabbing command from post six with driver Gilles Barrieau to cut the quarter in :27.4, My Happy Place set sail through middle half fractions of :57.3 and 1:27.3. The lead swelled for My Happy Place in the final stanza as she romped by 7-1/4 lengths in 1:58.2 over Isle Bea Wickedwon (David Dowling) and All Over Town (Marc Campbell).
Trained by Ron Matheson for owner Patrick Morris of Charlottetown, P.E.I., My Happy Place has won five of nine races in her three-year-old campaign. The daughter of Shadow Play-Smilesplace has won eight of 17 lifetime, good for career earnings of $68,455.
The card concluded with the $2,000 Culbert Farms Winners Over Pace. Whats Inthe Esky A, driven by Colin Decourcey, sat the pocket throughout before fending off Mantario (David Dowling) to reach the wire first by three parts of a length in 1:57.3, while Press Time (Gilles Barrieau) finished third after cutting the mile.
Whats Inthe Esky A has won seven of 20 races on the year and 26 times overall for earnings of $202,503. The 11-year-old gelded son of Western Edition is trained by Richard Kitchen for owner Bala Stable of Skiff Lake, N.B.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodstock Connell Park.
(Standardbred Canada)