Unstoppable Johnnie Jack takes another

Johnnie Jack jogged to a third straight harness racing feature victory at Northside Downs on Saturday in his most convincing score of the winning streak yet.

He cruised to the lead from post four with minimal encouragement from driver Ryan Campbell and cut out a :28.2 first quarter mile. The gelding finished the half in :59, brushed aside first-over challenger Southwind Ricard (Harry Leblanc Jr.) at three-quarters in 1:28.2, and widened his margin in the payoff panel to win by three and three quarter lengths in 1:57.4.

Accelerator (Greg Sparling) finished second after a ground-saving trip. Hotlikewasabi (Richie Baryluk) was third.

JOHNNIE JACK REPLAY

Johnnie Jack, who paid $3.20, has won 13 of his 32 lifetime starts and has earned $17,812 for owner and trainer Travis Campbell. The horse is a four-year-old gelding by Westwardho Hanover.

Also on the card, Staytheblazeshome, a three-year-old American Gigolo filly named after Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil’s famous plea for people to self-isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic, broke her maiden in 2:03.4. Co-owner and healthcare worker Randy Getto, along with Susan Macsween and Wayne Hardy, purchased the filly for $8,250 from the 2019 Atlantic Classic sale. Getto told CTV News that the ownership group didn’t like the horse’s original name and decided to change it after hearing McNeil deliver the “stay the blazes home” line in April 2020.

Northside Downs will continue with its weekly Saturday schedule with its next card on Jul. 17.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink