Howmac Napoleon defined 1-9 favouritism with his authoritative effort in the 2023 Celtic Financial Series final on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Northside Downs.
A winner in his elimination last week by nearly five lengths, Howmac Napoleon didn't have an anxious moment in the $3,500 final. Shawn Lynk pushed the pacer forward off the gate and fronted his seven rivals into the opening turn. From there, Howmac Napoleon powered through panels of :29.1, :58.3 and 1:29.1 before pouring it on with a :29.3 final quarter to trip the timer in a lifetime best 1:58.4.
Finer Things (Ardon Mofford) was a best-of-the-rest second nearly nine lengths in arrears. Elm Grove Ocean (Keigan Madden) completed the triactor.
Ian McKinnon trains Howmac Napoleon for Nova Scotia's Kenneth McKinnon, Joel Le Blanc, Harold Le Blanc and Brenda MacQueen. The six-year-old son of Articulator - Machintosh picked up career win no. 18 and boosted his bankroll to $29,151.
Sweet City Girl ($4.00) delivered as the even-money favourite in the $2,000 Celtic Financial Series Consolation, winning in 2:01.1 for trainer-driver-co-owner Greg Sparling and co-owner Aidan Dicks.
The 2023 Celtic Financial Series was for horses that were non-winners of $2,500 in 2023 as of Sept. 1, 2023 that had made a minimum of 10 starts.
Revenant survived an eventful journey to prevail in the $1,600 Winners Over Pace. Zach Mullins almost got caught in a three-wide speed duel down the backside but thought the better of it and settled into fourth as Gentry Seelster (Sparling) parked out favoured Q Ts Charlie (Lynk) through a :27.3 opening quarter. Q Ts Charlie stayed up on the rim through a :57.3 half and 1:28 third panel but could not get by the pacesetter.
Mullins had Revenant situated second over behind Q Ts Charlie, right-lined into the three-wide path down the backside, cleared Q Ts Charlie around the final turn and eventually wore down a stubborn Gentry Seelster for the 1:58.2 decision. Gentry Seelster was 1-1/2 length back in second with Keeperoftherealm (Redmond Doucet) just back of the front pair in third.
John Hawco handles the training on Revenant (If I Can Dream - Dragonfest), now a six-time winner of the season with 24 lifetime victories and more tha $58,000 in earnings. The nine-year-old gelding is owned by Kyla MacDonald of Stanhope, P.E.I., Tyler Lynk of Port Morien and Colby Lynk of Reserve Mines, N.S. He paid $6.70 to win.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.