Elims complete for Barrieau-McIsaac

Atlantic three-year-olds competed in three eliminations for the Barrieau-McIsaac Stake, one of the biggest stakes harness racing events in the Maritimes, on Friday (Jun. 30) at Woodstock Raceway.

Starship Glyde (Control The Moment) won the first elimination in a front-stepping effort for driver Patrick Shepherd. The gelding controlled the race, taking over at the quarter in :29.4 and putting up 1:01.4 and 1:31.3 panels. He turned away the challenge of Lookoveryour (Marc Campbell) on the last turn and scored by a length-and-a-half in 2:00. Elm Grove Redwine (David Dowling) passed the latter late for second.

STARSHIP GLYDE REPLAY

Starship Glyde is now six-for-12 lifetime with $28,620 in earnings. Earl Watts trains the homebred for Claude Poirier of Havre-Aux-Maisons.

Singing Ramona (Sportswriter) took the second elimination in similar fashion. David Dowling guided her to :29.2, 1:00.3, and 1:30.2 splits on the front. Woodmere Jade (Myles Heffernan Sr.) attacked as they turned for home, bug Singing Ramona resisted the challenge and went on to win in 2:00.1.

Bacononabiscuit (Campbell) came on for second. Woodmere Jade finished third.

SINGING RAMONA REPLAY

Singing Ramona has two wins this season; she won the Dawn Bremner Memorial Stake on Jun. 3 at Woodstock. The filly is trained by Jamie Smith, who co-owns her with Hubert Macdonald. The pair bred the filly and have received back $32,846 and seven wins from 17 starts.

Woodmere Dealer (Rollwithitharry, Jason Hughes) fought off the persistent first-up challenge of Gosistersoulsister (Campbell) and went coast-to-coast in 2:00.2 for a mild 5-1 upset.

Howmac Charmer (Shepherd) took second off a pocket ride. Itsuptoyou (Mark Haig) closed for third.

WOODMERE DEALER REPLAY

The winner is five-for-10 this year, including a win in the Maritime Breeders’ Stake. Hughes trains the gelding for Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge. Woodmere Dealer has earned $21,076 lifetime and is seven-for-20 overall.

The $37,000 final is scheduled for Friday, Jul. 7 at Woodstock. The race is named after legendary east coast horsemen Rufin Barrieau and Francis McIsaac. It will be the richest race ever held at Woodstock Raceway.

The field for the final is below:

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink