Daytime harness racing returned to Connell Park Raceway for the first time this season on a sunny Saturday (Sept. 26) in Woodstock, N.B.
Five afternoon dashes were carded, with a pair of $2,000 Handicap pacing events sharing the spotlight.
Thatmomentinlife (pictured above; returning $8.10) earned his victory in the $2,000 Horses & Geldings Handicap, winning wire-to-wire in 1:57.3 for driver Kyle Mason after repelling the stiff challenge of favoured Storm Shadow (Mike Downey) through the middle sections of the mile. After posting splits of :28.1, :59.2 and 1:28.2, Thatmomentinlife held sway and bested Storm Shadow by 1-1/4 lengths. P J Spudland (Colin DeCourcey) completed the top trio.
An eight-year-old son of Control The Moment-Artimittateslife, Thatmomentinlife is now an 11-time winner on the year and 27-time winner in his career with $160,258 in earnings. Robyn Dickison of Teeds Mills, N.B. trains and co-owns the winner with Shawn Dickison.
Therealprincess ($2.60) delivered as the 1-4 choice in the $2,000 Mares Handicap Pace, also winning in gate-to-wire fashion. Mike Downey had the Ellen Stevenson trainee out aggressively from post three and on top heading into the first turn. After a :28 opening quarter, Therealprincess paced out three consecutive :30.1 panels (:58.1 half, 1:28.2 third quarter and 1:58.3 mile time) to win comfortably by nearly two lengths. Bet On The Moon (Mark Haig) closed to rally for second with Isle Bea Wickedwon (Stephen Trites) rounding out the triactor ticket.
Dr. Mitchell Downey of Saint John, N.B. owns Therealprincess, a seven-year-old pacing mare with three wins on the year and 36 lifetime. The winner's share of the purse lifted her career earnings over the $200,000 plateau.
Live harness racing returns to Connell Park on Saturday, Oct. 17.
For the full results from Woodstock's card of harness racing on Saturday, click the following link: Saturday Results - Connell Park Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)