Top East Coast rookies destroy Woodstock records

Chip Of Evil (Arthur Blue Chip) and Jackies Boy (Tobago Cays) smashed harness racing track records at Woodstock Raceway by a combined eight-and-three-fifth seconds on Saturday (Sep. 2) in their divisions of the Milton Downey Memorial.

Chip Of Evil clawed to the front for Corey MacPherson in a :29.1 first panel and was never in danger as she paced the half in :59.3 and three-quarters in 1:29.2. She easily repelled the first-over Shesjusmsundrstood (Jason Hughes) on the homeward turn and scorched home to a six-and-a-quarter-length victory in the two-year-old filly division in 1:59. Shesjusmsundrstood was best of the rest. Islebetu Islebeatu (Mike McGuigan) finished third.

CHIP OF EVIL REPLAY

The 1:59 clocking knocked three seconds off the 2:02 mark for a rookie pacing filly set last year by Nannie Bernice.

Chip Of Evil is unbeaten in her first five career starts this season, including victories in the Lady Slipper, Atlantic Sires Stakes, and P.E.I. Colt Stake. Eddy Doucette trains the filly for Inarush Stable of Kensington.

Jackies Boy matched Chip Of Evil’s dominance with a six-and-three-quarter-length romp in the division for colts. Myles Heffernan Sr. oversaw a wire-to-wire effort in 1:57.4, which beat the previous record for a two-year-old pacing male by five-and-three-fifth seconds. Little Leroy (MacPherson) was a clear second with Tobins Barn Party (Hughes) two-and-a-half lengths back in third.

JACKIES BOY REPLAY

Jackies Boy is four-for-six in his debut season. He has won two Atlantic Sires Stakes legs and a Joe O’Brien Gold contest for owner/trainer/breeder Myles Heffernan Jr.

The Milton Downey Memorial is named for the harness racing pioneer who spent many years in New Brunswick and the Maritimes.

In the Rod Goguen Memorial, Batterup Hanover (Betting Line, Paul Langille) was promoted to the win. Bee Two Bee (Hughes) crossed the line first, but the judges ruled he caused interference and a pair of breaks at three-quarters. Batterup Hanover finished second and inherited a 1:54.2 victory. Rollwithhottytoddy (MacPherson) and Repeal Or Replace (Heffernan Sr.) were placed second and third, respectively, over the horse than interfered with them.

BATTERUP HANOVER REPLAY

Batterup Hanover is now 18-for-55 lifetime and has built his bankroll to $73,218. Langille conditions the five-year-old for Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner, Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow, Douglas Lowthers of Dartmouth, and Chantel Langille of Truro.

Woodstock Raceway will hold its penultimate card of the season on Saturday, Sep. 16.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink