Bremner Stakes highlights Connell Park card

The Connell Park card in Woodstock, hosted by Horse Racing New Brunswick, promises an exciting afternoon of harness racing this Saturday, showcasing a total purse of over $90,000. The highlight of the event is the $21,000 Dawn & Dr. Ted Bremner Stakes, which features vibrant competitions for both three-year-old colts and fillies.

Colt Division:

The colt division consists of five entries, combining for nearly $300,000 in seasonal earnings. Leading the pack is Tobins Chester, who has back-to-back wins, including a standout 1:54.1 performance last week. He’s trained by Jason Hughes and owned by Donald MacRae, boasting over $85,000 in earnings this year (with a record of 1:53.1).

Close competitors include Merigo Magic and Jackies Boy, both of whom have earned over $75,000 this season. Merigo Magic, trained and driven by Adam Merner, is on a winning streak and recorded a 1:54.3 new personal best last week. Meanwhile, Jackies Boy, whose strong performance at Connell Park earlier this season included a victory in the $50,000 Barrieau-McIasac final, is driven by Myles Heffernan Sr. for his son, Myles Heffernan Jr.

Filly Division:

The filly division also features a competitive lineup vying for the same $21,000 purse, with combined seasonal earnings of around $180,000. Fern Hill Indigo, trained by Tom Weatherbie, stands out with over $51,000 earned this year and a record of 1:56.2.

Also, noteworthy is Miss Dutton, holding the fastest filly time this year at 1:55, driven by Adam Merner for trainer Kuri White. Miss Wicked, the Maritimer champion, returns to the track with Corey Macpherson in the sulky.

New Brunswick Breeders Stakes:

Additionally, there are two divisions of the $15,000 New Brunswick Breeders Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies. The filly division is led by My Happy Place, driven by Gilles Barrieau, while the colt division features horses like Like A King and Here On Earth.

Rod Goguen Memorial:

The $8,000 Rod Goguen Memorial invite features a dynamic field. Batterup Hanover, fresh off a 1:53.3 win, holds the inside post advantage. Press Time, an undefeated newcomer from post two, boasts four consecutive wins this season and has clocked a 1:54.1 at Connell Park with Corey Macpherson driving.

Other competitors include trainers’ entries like Fern Hill General, with a top win time of 1:53.3, and the Nova Scotia standout American Risk, driven by Todd Trites from post five. The field is rounded out by contenders Rollwithhottytoddy and Bee Two Bee, both having recent strong performances.

Event Details:

Saturday's races begin at 1:00 PM, drawing attention to the contributions of horsemen, women, and fans who support local racing, despite the lack of government backing. The well-maintained track has recently seen records like the fastest mile-paced in New Brunswick, strengthening the appeal of harness racing in the province.