Todd Trites steals the show at Connell Park

Horse Racing New Brunswick played host to its second card of the harness season at Connell Park in Woodstock, New Brunswick today (June 17) and featured two $13,000 divisions of the New Brunswick Breeder stakes.

In total, six races were live and streamed this week. Great job by Horse Racing New Brunswick getting things ironed out for the card and moving forward with livestream coverage.

Race one saw Backroad Boogie (State Treasurer) and Colin DeCourcey turn an early pocket ride into a victory in 2:05.3. He is owned by Julie Pearson. Charlie Miles trains the first-time winner.

Second race of the afternoon went to last year’s New Brunswick filly champion  at two, Nannie Bernice. Owned, trained and bred by Janice Hubbard she was an easy winner in the $ 13,000 stake.

Catch-driver Todd Trites sent the Artspeak daughter to the lead and never looked back. She led all the way through panels of :31, 1:03.4, 1:35.2 and was on cruise control in 2:04.4. Time And Again was second with Silent Movie Star third.

In the third race of the afternoon, it was the bettor’s choice delivering for the third straight time on the afternoon.

Top Of Her Trade (Bolt The Duer), trained by George Rennison led at every mark in the third race as Todd Trites guided her to the easy victory. Time of the victory was 2:01.2.

Windemereimalright sat the pocket but was never a threat with the show spot going to JJ Linda. That made it two for three early for Todd Trites.

Andrea Lee Rennison and Corey Pickrem own the six-year-old mare. Her win marked her seventeenth of her career.

New Shooter (All Bets Off) shot off the Pure Country 104 starting gate and Todd Trites was again in victory lane for his third of the day in the N.B Breeders colt division for $ 13,000.

Another win from the Rennison Racing as George Rennison trains New Shooter. He was bred in Sussex, New Brunswick by the Charlotte Ranch.

New Shooter sat down fractions of :29, 1:00.4 as Miramichi Walter sat on his back. Three quarters in 1:32 as he challenged the final quarter but couldn’t take down New Shooter.

Time of the mile was 2.01.4 for the partnership of Dan Belliveau and Brady Doyle. His win put his lifetime mark over $ 10,000. It was his third straight win.

Miramichi Walter was second, with Hyperventilate grabbing the show dough in the rich stake.

In race five it was J J Breanne (Image Of Dawn) and John Davidson in 2:00 flat for owner John Davidson Jr in a gate to wire effort.

She busted off the gate and was in complete control through the entire mile as the Allan Jones trainee solidified her fourteenth career victory.

J J Breanne bested newcomer Day Of Honor and Joe C One Fiveoh. It was the mares fastest win in several years.

Final dash on the card saw yet another gate buster as the classy American Risk (American Ideal), owned by the Risky Bizz Group and driven by the red hot Todd Trites won the top overnight pace in 1:58.3.

Bettim Again, back in the Maritimes after an Ontario circuit journey, sat in the two hole for driver John Davidson who settled in the pocket after an early park.

Trites had American Risk through splits of :28.4, :59, 1.29.4 and Trites drove away for the 1:58.3 victory.

Bettim Again tested him a couple times in the mile but was turned away each time. He held on for second with Windsong Napoleon third.

For Trites, it was his fourth win on the day, and trainer George Rennison his third victory. His victory gave the pacer his 30th lifetime.

Next race card at Connell Park goes on June 30th, a Friday night as the Barrieau- McIsaac eliminations are featured. Post time is slated for 6:30 P.M.

For complete race results, click here.

by Scott Waddell, for Horse Racing New Brunswick