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Horse Racing New Brunswick will host the richest harness racing card ever held at Connell Park in Woodstock on Friday, July 7, with the Barrieau-McIsaac final and the N.B Breeders Stake.
Seven races will start at the picturesque half-mile track at 6:30 P.M. Wagering is available through H.P.I and selected tele-theatre locations in the province.
Also, on tap on Friday night is the Barrieau-McIsaac consolation pace for $ 5000. On the night, horsemen and women will compete for over $ 70,000.
Looking at the richest horse race ever contested at Connell Park in Woodstock Friday, the Barrieau-McIsaac has a field of eight that battle for a share of $ 37,000.
It’s an historic night at the half-mile track and with six horses across the gate, and two trailers, drivers will be looking to work out the best trip for their horses.
Starship Glyde, winner of his elimination, had an opportunity to pick his post, and not surprisingly he took the rail.
He was on cruise control at 2:00 last week but will have to step up that type of mile on Friday night. He already has a 1:56.3 win this season. Patrick Shepherd will drive.
Woodmere Dealer, another elimination winner in 2:00.2 will have post two and Jason Hughes driving. He’s a half-brother to Woodmere Stealdeal and looks to be coming into his own.
Woodmere Jade and Myles Heffernan leaves from post three for Myles Heffernan. She was third in her elimination.
Bacononabiscuit looked sharp last week and has the leading driver in the Maritimes, Marc Campbell on board. He’s won in 1:56 this season for trainer Stacey Lee Darrach. He gets post four to work with.
Elm Grove Redwine and David Dowling will score from post five, while Howmac Charmer and his connections picked post seven and elected to start in the trailing position. Mark Haig picks up the live catch drive.
Singing Ramona really is looking for a good trip as despite winning her elimination her connections too went with a trailing post seven. Gilles Barrieau will catch drive.
Lookoveryour will have post eight as another trailing entry and comes from the barn of Marc Campbell. So much strategy and the $ 37,000 purse hope to bring out the best in all of them.
Race three on Friday night is the second highest purse ever offered at Connell Park in Woodstock with $ 22,000 on the line in the two-year old N.B Breeders stake.
All seven of the entrants will be making their first official pari-mutuel start after successfully qualifying.
Looking at the chart lines, Majestic Mason looks to have the best line on paper, but it’s hard to pick out a clear favorite without a lot to go on.
Aforementioned Majestic Mason is owned and bred by Stephen Downey and is trained and driven by Gilles Barrieau. He closed on :29.1 on his qualifier and paced a trip in 2.04.3.
There are also two starters from the first crop of the now Hall of Fame racehorse, McWicked. Both were bred and sold by the Charlotte Ranch outside of Sussex, New Brunswick.
The Wicked One has the rail position to work with and another Quebec owned and trained gelding. Wickham, also from the Charles Gaudreault stables, leaves from post seven.
Resuscitate, from the George Rennison stable in Truro was clocked the fastest of the bunch in his qualifier, timed in 2:03.4.
There is a total of seven in this one, with five lucky enough to collect a cheque. Morning line favorite is Majestic Mason.
For complete race entries, click here.
by Scott Waddell, for Horse Racing New Brunswick
