The track record book took a beating during Monday’s matinee program at Fredericton Raceway, as the half-mile oval hosted four $6,000 divisions of the Williamson Memorial for two-year-old pacers.
K D Overdrive became the oval’s fastest two-year-old pacing gelding thanks to his 1:56.2 performance for driver Gilles Barrieau and trainer Steve Mason. The son of Camystic-Stormy Sakra laid down panels of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:27.3 before scooting home in :28.4 to post the record-setting performance. It was 6-3/4 lengths back to runner-up Dilans Mustang, with Windemere Rene and Windemere Johny rounding out the field.
Sent off at odds of 1-9, K D Overdrive improved his rookie record to 5-1-0 from seven starts with the win. Downey Stables of Quispamsis, NB owns the career winner of $19,795. He was a $5,000 purchase from last year’s Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale.
The previous record of 1:58 for two-year-old pacing geldings was held by Untouchable One.
Dixie Lullaby knocked nearly two seconds off the track record for two-year-old pacing fillies thanks to her 1:58 score for driver Todd Trites. He rolled the daughter of If I Can Dream-Dixie Dew Bluechip through fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.1 before stepping home in :29.4 for the four-length triumph over West River Ambyr. Third prize went to Paradise Paradox.
Johnny Heffernan of Reserve Mines, NS owns and trains the youngster, who has yet to finish worse than second in seven career starts. Her 5-2-0 record has helped her stash away $10,415 to date. She was a $3,500 purchase from last year’s Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Yearling Sale.
The former record of 1:59.4 was held by Dusty Lane Bria.
Jackson K Down came away victorious in his division in 1:58.1, and in doing so he gave driver Gilles Barrieau his second stakes victory on the card. Barrieau whacked out the fractions of :29.4, :59.3 and 1:28.4 with the gelding who finished off his foes with a :29.2 kicker. Offshore Cowboy completed the Exactor ticket, while J J Jodster was third.
It was the second stakes win on the card, as well, for trainer Steve Mason and the Downey Stables of Quispamsis, NB. The homebred son of Camystic-Village Jericho now owns a 6-1-0 record from seven lifetime assignments. He’s now a career winner of $21,597.
Howmacscanasta gave Barrieau the stakes triple on the program thanks to her 1:59 triumph in the second division for the two-year-old pacing fillies. The Barrieau trainee led through splits of :30.3, 1:00.2 and 1:30 before rocketing home in a :29-second clip to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Shalara. Sassyandiknowit was third.
The daughter of Articulator-Stonebridge Capri races for Wayne Mac Rae of Fall River, NS along with Robert Tilley and Lester Mott of Saint John, NB. It was a lifetime best performance for the rookie who boasts a 3-0-1 record from her first six assignments. The youngster, who was a $6,500 purchase from last year’s Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale, has stashed away more than $14,000 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Fredericton Raceway.