This Saturday’s eight-card event includes three divisions on the lucrative Milton Downey Stakes
On Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7, Horse Racing New Brunswick, for the second card in a row at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock, will offer over $50,000 in purse money with the running of the lucrative Milton Downey Stakes.
The Stakes will feature three divisions, with two divisions of two-year-old pacing fillies vying for purses of $11,200 each and one colt division for $ 21,200.
The eight races on the matinee card get underway at 1 p.m. The card offers six overnight races, including a $2,500 top-class, featuring Press Time looking to go back-to-back after an eye-popping 1:54.1 win last week for new owner Zach Cougle and driver Jason Hughes.
The annual Milton Downey Stakes, a New Brunswick Stakes calendar staple, honours the memory of the owner, builder, breeder, trainer, and well-known Atlantic Canadian entrepreneur who operated a public stable in Saint John for several years.
Not only did Downey breed his own horses, but he also purchased several “down-under“ horses who made names for themselves in the Maritimes, including Timely Robin, Scottish Heath N, Bright Breezy N, Glen Lustre and more. He also ran top-class horses from his stable, including Christoper C Down.
In the first filly division for $11,200, Adam Merner, driving Lady Hess, accepts top billing by race secretary Brent Briggs. She has two wins, two seconds in six starts this year, and over $13,000 in money earned. Jamie Smith trains the daughter of Heston Blue Chip, a $13,000 yearling purchase.
Merner has another good shot in the other filly division with Woodmere Flojo, another Jamie Smith trainee, who is having a stellar year with over $31,000 in just six starts.
My Happy Place, with Gilles Barrieau driving, is undefeated in 2024 in two starts and is another top choice of the oddsmaker. She has banked over $11,000 in her two wins and comes from the top high-producing Ron Matheson stable.
In the colt division for $21,200, One Wicked Man led the freshman boys this year in the Maritimes with a 1:56.2 win and only one loss. Kenny Arsenault trains and drives the colt by McWicked, who is four for five this year and over $21,000 in earnings.
New Brunswick-owned Sargeant Crawley has been a pleasant surprise for the Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn. He has over $22,000 in winnings this season and a win in 1:58.1 this year. Late bloomer Like A King was an upset winner in his last outing for owner Jennifer Ritchie. He now has over $21,000 in earnings in 2024.
Horse Racing New Brunswick presents a thrilling card on Sept. 7 in Woodstock as it switches to Saturday racing through September.
