Driver Gilles Barrieau followed up his six-win performance at Connell Park's Woodstock Raceway a week ago with another six wins on Friday, Aug. 9, including a sweep of the first leg of the New Brunswick Breeders Stakes for two-year-old pacers.
Barrieau was victorious with the Don Milligan-trained colt Like A King ($4.80) and the Ron Matheson stable's undefeated filly My Happy Place ($3.30) in the pair of $15,000 stakes featured on the eight-race program.
The first division for the colts turned into a two-horse race as Barrieau sent Like A King first-up from third at the three-eighths marker and battled on the front with the favoured Here On Earth (Adam Merner) the rest of the way. With a final surge in deep stretch, Like A King opened up four lengths to win in 2:04.4 over a sloppy track. Here On Earth settled for second and Moonfall (Brodie MacPhee) finishing a dozen lengths behind in third and a pair of breakers completing the field.
A homebred by Arthur Blue Chip out of Twin B Cuzisaidso for owner Jennifer Ritchie of Kingston, N.B., Like A King has earned two (consecutive) wins from three starts.
Barrieau worked out a winning trip from the outside post in the filly division for the favoured My Happy Place (pictured above), stalking from third in a strung-out field of seven before engaging the leading Pandemonic (Myles Heffernan Sr.) in the final turn and drawing off for the 2:06.2 triumph. Home Team Hanover (Merner) chased the winner home, finishing 1-3/4 lengths behind, with Handle On You (Brodie MacPhee) third over Pandemonic.
Bred by Charlotte Ranch and Seawind Amg Stbs 2005 Inc. of Mount Hebron, N.B., My Happy Place was a $31,000 yearling purchase from the Atlantic Classic Sale by Patrick Morris of Charlottetown, P.E.I. The Shadow Play-Smilesplace filly is now two-for-two to start her career.
Barrieau kicked off the Friday card with repeat winner P J Spudland ($2.30) for trainer Weldon Briggs. He also drove Bay Bries ($7.50) and Ninoscredit ($7.20) for the Nathalie Migneault stable. The New Brunswick native also won with Windemereimalright ($2.30) dominating the finale by a dozen lengths for trainer Stefan DeCourcey. From seven drives, Barrieau's only loss was a fourth-place finish.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodstock Raceway NB.
(Standardbred Canada)