It's been a wonderful harness racing story in New Brunswick this season, one of many but a standout performance by filly Miss Oromocto in the classic Maritimer stake was one for the ages on Saturday at Exhibition Park Raceway.
Purchased at the Atlantic Classic P.E.I sale in 2013, hip # 95 garnered a final bid of $ 2000. Mel Land of Cookies Lighting fame and Sharon Burchill who owned stakes winner Camco Kyle, purchased the filly.
As a two-year-old she showed tremendous potential in winning three of five races and bankrolled close to $7500. Not a bad year for her connections who decided to lightly race the daughter of former P.E.I track record holder, Driven To Win.
Land, a well known and respected trainer in the region was busy prepping the promising filly this spring and she made her 2015 debut in Summerside with Mark Haig in the drivers seat and notched a new lifetime mark of 1:59.4.
She continued to improve and has gone on to win five stake races this season including the one and only Maritimer stake. This unique event in the Maritimes tests the endurance of young fillies by having them win both the elimination and the final to claim the overall title in one afternoon.
Miss Oromocto did just that for her driver Mark Haig and owners Land and Burchill. She captured her elimination heat and advanced to the final to take on seven other quality fillies for the showdown.
Stage was set and because of her elimination win, she had the chance at either post one or two in the draw. As luck would have it, she drew the rail for last year's driver of the year in Saint John, Mark Haig.
Haig went into the final confident and poised as they set up behind the starting gate. When the wings flew open it was a surprise to many to see a filly from the far outside, post position eight go for the lead as they sped to the opening eighth.
This is where things got really scary not only for her cheering owners and fans, but every driver in the race. Woodmere Arcticblue, in line to Stephen Trites made a horrible misstep while going for the lead as they battled past the first turn. Luckily, no horses or drivers were hurt but the incident left a couple horses breaking stride including Haig and Miss Oromocto.
Haig, who has developed into one of the most underrated drivers in the region did an outstanding job getting the filly back on track and she then inherited the lead. It was up to her after that as she controlled her own destiny.
After the rock dust had settled the small but mighty filly was not to be beat on this afternoon and stopped the clock in 1:59.4. She is Maritimer champion and now has earned over $44,000 lifetime. Not bad at all for a $2000 yearling purchase named Miss Oromocto who caught the eye of the sharp conditioner Mel Land.
As history will write, Miss Oromocto was champion of the 2015 Maritimer stake in Saint John for her elated connections and talented teamster, Mark Haig. With the industry struggling in the province, this is one of the feel good stories of 2015 and it looks like she may not be done yet.