It was double header day at Fredericton Raceway on Monday, and the half-mile oval treated fans to stakes action
on both programs.
The afternoon portion of the double header featured a pair of $7,616 divisions of the Williamson Memorial Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies, with J J Solara and Howmac Royale taking their respective splits.
J J Solara front-stepped her way to a career-best clocking of 2:01.1 in the opening division for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald. Morah Kerr of Greenfield and Phonsie McEachern of Port Hood, NS share ownership on the daughter of Coastocoast Yankee-Farline Hanover, who won as she pleased over Woodmere Sandollar and Shesa Mint. The youngster has put together a 5-4-0 record in nine tries while banking $33,224 along the way.
Howmac Royale turned a two-hole trip in a narrow score in the second division for trainer Earl Watts and driver Kenny Arsenault. The Royal Mattjesty-TA Jomar miss prevailed by a half-length over We B Success in a lifetime best performance of 2:02.2. Bettim Laura rounded out the top three. The Howmacs Farms Ltd.’s homebred now owns a 2-1-1 record in six starts. She has stashed away $5,658 to date.
On the evening program the spotlight went on the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings as the battled in a set of $7,616 divisions of the Williamson Memorial Stakes.
The opening division went to Mr Salming and trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau in a time of 1:59.4. The son of Coastocoast Yankee-First To Fly sat a pocket trip throughout the mile before rallying to win by a nose over Allbentouttashape. Third prize went to Southview Anand. The win gives the colt a 3-3-0 record in seven tries, while his bankroll swelled to $18,591 for the partnership of Boyd MacDonald Prodce Ltd. of Crapaud and Daniel Ross of Belfast, PE.
A similar trip earned Island Redemption the hardware in the second division. The son of Sea Gull Hershey-Luscious Character saved ground for trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau and then used a :29-second final quarter kick to win by a little more than a length over Comebacks Sir Tax in 2:00. Dr Alexander B grabbed the show dough. It was the third win in seven starts for the gelding, who is owned by Alfred Barrieau, Kelly Barrieau and Michael Clinton.