Woodstock, N.B.'s Connell Park Raceway played host to some of Atlantic Canada's top freshmen with $16,425 divisions of the Milton Downey Memorial for two-year-old pacers.
The filly division featured the unbeaten Chip Of Evil (pictured above), and she would not be denied on this occasion. Chip Of Evil and driver Corey MacPherson sat in the pocket behind Islebetu IsleBeatu (Mike McGuigan) but not for long, looping to the lead before the first quarter was reached in :29.1. From there, MacPherson allowed the undefeated filly to pace through confident middle fractions of :59.3 and 1:29.2 before stopping the clock in a track record 1:59. Shesjusmsundrstood (Jason Hughes) and Islebetu Islebeatu completed the top trio.
The time of the mile shaved three full seconds off the previous mark set by Nannie Berniece in 2022.
Eddy Doucette trains Chip Of Evil (Arthur Blue Chip - Evil Fight) for Inarush Stable of Kensington, P.E.I. The win lifted her earnings to $29,324 lifetime. As the 1-9 favourite, she paid $2.10 to win.
Jackies Boy and Myles Heffernan had the lead by the opening turn in the $16,425 Milton Downey Memorial for two-year-old pacing colts and were never seriously threatened. After fractions of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:29.2, Jackies Boy opened up on his six rivals. The only questions left were how fast and how much. The margin was 6-3/4 lengths and the mile time was 1:57.4, another new track record. Second went to Little Leroy (MacPherson) with Tobins Barn Party (Jason Hughes) next best.
Myles Heffernan of Montague, P.E.I. bred, owns and trains Jackies Boy (Tobago Cays - Dusty Lane Bria), now a four-time winner from six starts with $30,628 in earnings. The 1-2 favourite returned $3.10 on a $2 win wager.
Batterup Hanover (Paul Langille) was second across the line in the $8,000 Rod Gougen Memorial for older pacers, but he was elevated to first after Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) finished first but was placed fourth due to interference on Repeal Or Replace (Heffernan) while attempting to clear to the lead after the third quarter. After placings, Rollwithhottytoddy (MacPherson) and Repeal Or Replace completed the triactor.
Langille trains Batterup Hanover (Betting Line - Beachbunny Hanover) for Nova Scotia-based owners Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner, Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow, Douglas Lowthers of Dartmouth and Chantel Langille of Truro, N.S. The win was the 18th lifetime for the five-year-old gelding, lifting his earnings to $73,218. He returned $4.70 to win.
Therealprincess ($3.20) continues to find her return to the east coast to her liking, winning her second straight start for Dr. Mitchell Downey. After a 2:01 win last time out at Connell Park, the four-year-old pacing mare returned with a 1:58.4 performance in the $2,500 Winners Over Pace with Downey at the controls for trainer Ellen Stevenson.
To view the results from the Saturday card of harness racing at Woodstock, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodstock Raceway (NB).