Horse Racing New Brunswick will present the annual Barrieau-McIsaac Memorial Stakes named in honour of the legendary horsemen at Connell Park in Woodstock, N.B with eliminations held on Friday night (June 30).
The long running stakes is in memory of two Hall of Fame horsemen in Rufin Barrieau and Francis McIsaac. Both are legends in the Maritimes' long-standing history. This is the first time that the lucrative stakes will take place outside of Exhibition Park Raceway. There will be three separate elimination divisions that go for $6,000 each division.
Finalists will meet head on for a battle on Friday, July 7, competing for a purse $37,000. The top two from all three eliminations willl advance, while two out of three third-place finishers will advance on a decision made by draw. The final third-place finisher will start in the consolation.
All other colts and geldings will have a chance for the consolation for $5,000. There is a filly bonus for $3,000, with $2,000 for the top placed filly in the final and $1,000 for next highest placed filly.
Post time for Friday night's card, which have six races on the program, is slated for 6:30 p.m.
There are a total of 19 colts and fillies which have entered the eliminations in hope of making the rich final.
Looking at the divisions, the opener appears to be a battle between Lookoveryour from the powerful Marc Campbell stable and Elm Grove Redwine from the David Dowling stable. Lookoveryour has won her last two races with a new lifetime mark of 1:55.1 at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park while Elm Grove Redwine has not missed the board in 2023 for trainer/driver David Dowling.
In the second division, Bacononabiscuit, another entry off a new lifetime mark last start of 1:56, will have the leading driver in the Maritimes, Marc Campbell on board. Bacononabiscuit is trained by Stacey Darrah and has three wins in six starts this season. His biggest test should come from Singing Ramona and Woodmere Clara.
In the third and final division, there are seven starters. It is wide open who will come out with the top two finishers earning a berth in the $37,000 final. Howmac Charmer has the inside post in this race with the aggressive Patrick Shepherd between the wheels. New Shooter comes in red hot with three straight wins for trainer George Rennison and leaves from post two. Elm Grove Restwind gets the trailing spot for trainer/driver David Dowling.
In other news, Therealprincess, one of the most dominant stakes performers in the Maritimes in 2021-22 is back in the Maritimes under the ownership of Dr. Mitch Downey. She has drawn post six in the top overnight class in the finale.
Horse Racing New Brunswick would like to extend gratitude to the horsemen and women who chose to enter for Friday. It's a long trip for many and HRNB appreciates all the support.
(With files from Horse Racing New Brunswick)