Singing Ramona blitzes rivals in opening Woodstock stake

Singing Ramona (Sportswriter) and dominated her harness racing division of the Dawn Bremner Memorial Stake on a rainy opening day Saturday (Jun. 3) at Connell Park.

Singing Ramona first captured the female division over a field of sharp east coast fillies. She took point in the second panel and controlled the pace before streaking away by five lengths down the stretch to score in 2:00.3 for driver John Davidson Sr. Run For The Money (Mark Haig) held off the first-up Gosistersoulsister (Pierre-Luc Roy) for second.

Singing Ramona was previously winless in four starts on the year. She is six-for-15 in her career with $29,558 in earnings. Jamie Smith trains the filly whom he co-owns and co-bred with Hubert Macdonald.

Starship Art (Arthur Blue Chip) won in similar fashion by a lesser margin in the colt and gelding division. He rolled to the top for Patrick Shepherd and saw the challenge of Woodmere Knight (Roy) going to three-quarters. Starship Art shrugged that rival off in the stretch and was too quick for Howmac Charmer (Haig), winning in 2:01.4. Homac Charmer finished second by a length-and-a-half. Proudofyatoday (S? Ford) was promoted to third as Woodmere Knight was disqualified for interference.

Starship Art is three-for-four since making his career debut in May. He won a Grassroots leg of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes and has earned $10,374 for owner/breeder Claude Poirier of Havre-Aux-Maisons. Earl Watts trains the gelding.

Davidson Sr. was the day’s leading driver with a triple.

Woodstock Raceway, now the main hub for racing in New Brunswick, has 10 race dates this year. It will hold racing next on Saturday, Jun. 17.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink