Formal Affair defended his title in the Jennie & Joe Chippin Memorial Pace on Saturday night, bringing an end to the FREX week harness races at Fredericton Raceway
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This time in line to driver Mark Bradley for trainer David Rose, the six-year-old Real Desire gelding got away fourth but came on for the one length victory, matching his 1:55.2 winning time last year. Joseph Michael (Todd Trites) rallied home from the backfield for second and Oakmont (Mike Stevenson) settled for third after carving out intervals of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:25.3.
Formal Affair has won half of his 10 starts this year including the Inverness Invitational Pace, Exhibition Cup Invitational Pace and Christine Deagle Memorial Pace. The lion’s share of the $7,500 purse lifted his 2011 earnings to $24,520 for owners Ronnie and Dale Rennie of Elmsdale, P.E.I.
Four races earlier, even-money favourite Md Hardlys Success and Gilles Barrieau fanned four-wide from the back of the pack and charged home to win the $3,000 Albert Goodine Memorial Invitational Pace in 1:57 by three and a half lengths. After Lunch Larry (Todd Trites) and Onehotvett (Mike Stevenson) finished second and third respectively.
The five-year-old gelded son of Western Success, who earned his ninth win of the season while making his 28th start and pushed his 2011 earnings to $18,639, is trained by Andrew Ward for owners Bill Smith and Wayne Watson of Saint John, N.B.
In regular racing action, Man In Pink and driver Mark Haig went wire-to-wire to win Saturday’s $1,850 Winners Over Pace by five and a half lengths in 1:57.1. The seven-year-old Camluck gelding is owned and trained by Gordon White of Quispamsis, N.B.
Drivers Gilles Barrieau and Mike Stevenson ended the 16-race card with four wins apiece. Stevenson teamed with trainer Frank Banks for three of his victories.
For results from Saturday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results – Fredericton Raceway.