It was a day of ultimate perfection for Sifroi Melanson as the veteran trainer sent out three starters on the Saturday (Sept. 18) card of harness racing at Exhibition Park Raceway and he had his photo taken with each one.
The training hat-trick came in Saturday's fifth and final dash, the $1,600 Winners Over feature. Woodmere Ideal Art was sent postward as the 1/4 betting choice and he did not disappoint his supporters. Driver Todd Trites pointed Woodmere Ideal Art for the front early and cleared Little Manny (Stephen Trites) through the opening turn. After fractions of :28.3, :57 and 1:26.1, Woodmere Ideal Art sprinted home in :28.4 to trip the timer more than four lengths the best in 1:54.4, a season's best time and just a fifth off his lifetime mark taken as a four-year-old in 2019.
The Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, N.B. owns six-year-old Woodmere Ideal Art (Articulator - Very Ideal Hanover), now a 25-time winner in his career with earnings just shy of $90,000.
Melanson also swept the daily double, winning with Love In Paradise (Kyle Mason up, 2:02.1) and Bouttagetlucky (Todd Trites aboard, 1:59). With 10 wins on the season at Exhibition Park, Melanson is now just one victory behind trainer Ellen Stevenson for the top spot at the Saint John oval.
To view the results from the Saturday card at Exhibition Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Exhibition Park Raceway.