Fredericton Raceway celebrated Canada Day by putting together a double header which was filled with
a number of Atlantic Sires Stakes stars.
The matinee card featured a set of $12,560 “A” divisions and a pair of $2,500 “B” divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies.
In the opening “A” division it was Run Them Down who did just that in a time of 1:58.1 for trainer Steve Mason and driver Gilles Barrieau. The Largo – First Paysak miss used a :28.2 final frame to post the half-length score over Southview Spirit. Third prize went to Darko.
Bred and owned by Downey Stables of Saint John, NB, Run Them Down won for the fourth time in her career and pushed her lifetime earnings to $22,660 in the process.
Trainer/driver Earl Smith clicked with R Es Mary in the second division thanks to a front-stepping score in a time of 1:59.3. The N Xample – Kona Queen miss chopped out splits of :29, :59.4 and 1:30 before cruising home in :29.3 to seal the win over Brookie Neighseigh and Sweetie Girl.
The homebred, who is owned by Peter Smith, Donald Smith, Gerald Morrissey and Larry Chappell, won for the first time season in seven trips postward, She has gone 3-for-21 in her career while banking more than $50,000 in earnings.
The “B” division winners were Camco Wineette (2:02.1) and P H Princess (2:02.2).
The evening program gave fans plenty of reasons to stick around. A trio of $9,540 “A” divisions and a pair of $2,500 “B” divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings was accompanied by the 50th edition of the Walter Dale Memorial Invitational Pace.
Owner/trainer Stacy Gay’s All Star Dragon went to the front and didn’t look back in the $5,000 Walter Dale Memorial Invitational Pace for driver Gilles Barrieau. The four-year-old son of Dragon Again – West Star Lady romped to win by more than eight lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:57. Melodys Cookie Boy was second and Chelemark Adios was third.
The pacer is 2-for-2 this season after putting together a productive record of 5-2-0 in seven starts in his three-year-old campaign.
War Dancer kept his perfect record intact by stepping to a 1:57 score in the first of three “A” division affairs for the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The son of Western Paradise – Temples May Day is now 8-for-8 for trainer/driver Mike Stevenson, who had no problem holding off Ultimate Success and Dov Bears Dream.
Boyd MacDonald Prodce Ltd., Daniel Ross and Charles Seymour share ownership on the gelding who has banked $26,483 to date.
The second division went to Saulsbrook Quick, who was interfered with shortly after the start before regaining his composure and rallying for a 1:59.1 triumph for owner/trainer Ross Toole of Truro, NS and driver Gilles Barrieau. The son of Quick Comeback – A Little Heaven kicked home in :29.1 to knock off Extreme Measure and Pictonian Manowar. It was his third win of the season, and the fifth of his career.
Stars Xample rebounded from his first loss of the season and posted a 1:56.1 victory in the final division for trainer/driver Terry Gallant and owner/breeder Catherine MacNeil of Glace Bay, NS. It was a career-best clocking for the son of N Xample – Hidden Assets, who defeated Porthill Gatsby and Roscoes Child. The pacer owns a 10-for-17 record, while his bankroll sits at $21,768.
The winners of the “B” divisions were Pictonian Leo (2:01) and J J Jaguar (2:02.2)
It's too bad this year's
It's too bad this year's Walter Dale was a made a New Brunswick race only. Poor, poor decision in my opinion. Will this year's McCain and Chippin and the free-for-all in Saint John be for winners over too? Time for Malloy and company to take a long hard look at decisions being made. Future of N.B racing is in their hands.