Five divisions of the Bill Quigg Memorial for three-year-old pacers went behind the starting gate at Fredericton Raceway on Thursday evening, with the boys battling in three splits and the gals going at it in the other two
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Pictonians Souwest took his $7,025 assignment in wire-to-wire fashion for driver Mike Stevenson. The son of Western Paradise-Southview Sasha sliced out fractions of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:29 before using a :29.1 closing quarter to cement the victory in 1:58.1. Two lengths in arrears was runner-up Royal Putnam, with Neigh Monster taking home third prize.
Sent off as the 3-5 favourite, the Wayne Bell pupil improved his 2011 record to 5-2-1 in 11 tries while pushing his lifetime earnings over $60,000. The 12-time winner is owned by Daniel Ross of Belfast, PEI.
Putnams Art used off-the-pace tactics to take home the lion’s share of the purse in his $7,025 tilt. Trainer/driver Bernard McCallum rallied the son of Southwind Balsam-Raisin Ruckus from first-over, and the gelding simply drew away from the competition en route to the eight-length score in 2:01.1. Woodmere Ultimate was next best, with third prize earned by Howdidchado.
Wesley Patriquin of Debert, NS holds the ownership papers on the career winner of $44,334, who now boasts a 7-5-3 record in 22 starts this season after going unraced in his rookie season.
Pictonians Matador crossed the line second, but was awarded the win when Woodmere Sandman, who was first-placed-second, caused interference to that foe on the way to the half. Woodmere Sandman drew off to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:58.1, but the win and the mark of 1:59 went to Pictonians Matador. Third money went to Milliondollardad in the six-horse affair.
Mike Stevenson guided Pictonians Matador, a son of Southview Matt-Southview Selena, to the victory for trainer Wayne Bell and owner Daniel Ross of Belfast, PEI. It was the gelding’s second win of the year in 11 tries, and the lion’s share of the purse lifted his lifetime earnings to $8,628.
After back-to-back losses, Honey Do Jigtime got back to her winning ways for trainer/driver Clare MacDonald in the first division for the fillies. The photogenic daughter of Coastocoast Yankee-Gold Luck led through tepid fractions of :30.1, 1:01.4 and 1:31.4 before sprinting home in :28.1 en route to the half-length tally in 2:00. Charlottes Maggie was second, and Galamoe took home the bronze medal.
Morah Kerr of Greenfield and Phonsie McEachern of Port Hood, NS share ownership on the 14-time winner. She has hit the board (10-3-1) in all of her starts this year, and in doing so she has pushed her lifetime earnings to $74,836.
Force Of Fire took the other division for the fillies for driver Todd Trites. The daughter of Force Of Life-Glacier Fire parked past the quarter pole in :29.4 before finding the front and marching the field through splits of :58.3 and 1:28.2 en route to the 1-1/2 length decision in 1:58.4. Elm Grove Future was the best of the rest, and Ella Finesse closed well to grab the show dough.
Owned and trained by David Jackson of Great Village, NS, the filly improved this year’s record to 2-2-2 in 12 tries while lifting her lifetime earnings to $30,808.
Racing resumes Saturday at 6:00 p.m. with the $7,500 Jennie and Joe Chippin Memorial Pace featured on a 16-dash card. Formal Affair is back to defend his title earned in the Chippin last year. Other contenders include Walter Dale winner Serious Damage and locally-owned Joseph Michael, fresh off a win in Saint John in the Milton Downey Memorial.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Fredericton Raceway.