The win streak for rookie pacer Fishermans Son is now at five after the freshman easily handled his rivals in the lone $9,790 Phil Pinkney Memorial Stakes division contested on Saturday (Sept. 17) at Northside Downs.
Fishermans Son ($2.10) only had two rivals to beat on Saturday, and the public backed the talented two-year-old down to 1/9 favouritism. He delivered on that promise, going wire-to-wire for driver Donny Gillis in a time of 1:59.3. The Midnight Train (Darren Crowe) was a length back in second with Impeccable Shadow (Adam Merner) rounding out the top three.
A son of Arthur Blue Chip - Isthatyou Ardella, Fishermans Son is owned and trained by Walter Walker and co-owned by the estate of Angus MacInnis of Mabou, N.S. In seven appearances, Fishermans Son now sports six wins and earnings of nearly $35,000.
The Winners Over top class has been a contentious one over the 2022 season at Northside with a number of veteran pacers having their photo taken after the Saturday afternoon feature by track photographer Tanya Romeo. On this occasion, Revenant roared out of the pocket down the backside for driver Adam Merner to challenge a revved-up pacesetter in Euchred (Redmond Doucet), forged past that rivals late and then held off the late rally of longshot Q Ts Charlie (Shawn Lynk) to trip the timer in a seasonal best 1:56.4.
Julien Frison is now handling the training on 18-time winner Revenant (If I Can Dream - Dragonfest) for owners Kyla MacDonald of Stanhope, P.E.I., Tyler Lynk of Port Morien and Colby Lynk of Reserve Mines, N.S. The win lifted the veteran's earnings to $47,756.
Howmac Napoleon ($14.60) now has the distinction of delivering notable training wins to two of his owners this season. Joel LeBlanc handled the training duties on the five-year-old pacer earlier this year, but Ian McKinnon has taken over the conditioning. McKinnon last participated as a trainer in the 1980s, winning with horses the likes of Jersey Win, Avon Maud, Freddy Express and West River Jase.
Back in the training ranks this month, McKinnon notched his first training victory in some four decades as Howmac Napoleon prevailed after an arduous overland journey to hit the wire nearly two lengths the best in a time of 2:01.3.
McKinnon co-owns Howmac Napoleon (Articulator - Machintosh) with Joel Le Blanc of Victoria Mines, Harold Le Blanc, Sydney and Brenda MacQueen of Glace Bay, N.S. The win was the gelding's fourth this season and 12th lifetime.
To view the results from the Saturday afternoon card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.