Big mile from Little Manny

Little Manny had to fight intensely for the lead in the Exhibition Park harness racing co-feature pace on Saturday, but the gelding ensured he converted it to a victory once he got it.

Woodmere Ideal Art (Robert Laffin), starting from the three-hole, out-left the pole-sitter Little Manny as the gate sped off and was as much as a length ahead through the first quarter mile in :28.1, but he could not clear. Stephen Trites urged Little Manny to continue hanging out his foe, who eventually surrendered and took the pocket spot.

Little Manny managed softer middle splits, pacing the half in :57.2 and three-quarters in 1:28.2. He led his three foes into the stretch with Woodmere Ideal Art as the main threat, but none of them made progress on Little Manny, who completed his third victory of the season in 1:57.3.

Woodmere Ideal Art finished second by a length and three quarters, and Thankyouallmyfans (John Davidson Sr.) took show. The winner paid $3.

LITTLE MANNY REPLAY

Little Manny, a four-year-old Articulator gelding, has won eight of his 27 lifetime starts and earned just less than $29,000. Trites co-owns with Dean McLaughlin and Mark Taylor, all of whom are Fredericton residents, and Brad McLaughlin of Woodstock. Charles Miles trains.

Ultimatelyhandsome paced the long path for his win in the second co-feature.

Kyle Mason tucked the gelding in behind the leaving horses from post three to occupy the fourth spot early. The pair made the first-over plunge as leader J J Breanne (Davidson Sr.) slowed rapidly and bunched up the field approaching the quarter in :29.3, which triggered an inquiry.

Ultimatelyhandsome gained positions quickly and reached second passing the half-mile pole in :58.3. J J Breanne kept him at bay through the third quarter in 1:28.3 and Davidson urged the mare to kick away. Mason put his gelding on cover behind the leader coming into the final turn then switched him back to the outside as they angled into the stretch.

Ultimatelyhandsome forged by under urging and outlasted two closing rivals to score in 2:00. Whiskey To Wine (Mitchell Downey) flew up on the cones late but was a half-length short in place. Paris Beau (Trites) finished third. Two-dollar win tickets on the winner returned $8.50.

ULTIMATELYHANDSOME REPLAY

Ultimatelyhandsome is now 35-for-148 lifetime with nearly $65,000 in earnings for Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn. Dawn Hubbard trains the nine-year-old Western Paradise gelding.

Blood Money, the star of the meet so far, was absent from racing this week. The five-year-old Sweet Lou stallion has won three of his four starts to date at the Saint John, NB track, all of which were feature races.

Racing resumes at Exhibition Park on Jun. 12 at 1:00 p.m. ADT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink