A Better Man win highlights Northside Downs card

NORTH SYDNEY — A Better Man led all the way and withstood his four other competitors in the stretch to prevail in 1:57.4, highlighting a nine-race card held Saturday afternoon at Northside Downs.

Gerard Kennedy piloted the six-year-old gelding to his third win of the season, the second since arriving from Ontario for owner Joseph Lewis.

A Better Man would finish a half-length ahead of Mando Fun, with Gentry Seelster a blocked third at the inside. Revenant would find racing room in the stretch to finish fourth ahead of Kiss Me I'm Irish.

It was one of two wins on the day for Kennedy in the sulky, as he opened the afternoon by guiding first-time starter Roman Raven to a maiden victory of 2:05 for owners David Ferguson and Paul Niven.

Kevin Bailey also had a driving double with a pair of his own pacers. Indywheelbarrow led all the way for Bailey's first win, in 1:59.1, defeating Classic Smiley and Elm Grove Ocean.

Bailey co-owns Indywheelbarrow with Rebecca MacKenzie, Brynn White and Kimberly Gottwald.

Shadow of A Daut rallied from fourth at the top of the stretch to give Bailey his second win, this one in 1:59.4 over Cowboy Gilles and Don’t Tell Kim. Bailey co-owns the six-year-old gelding with Rebecca MacKenzie and Sandra O’Donnell.

Other winners on the card included Lincoln Seelster for Shawn Lynk and owner Colby Lynk in 2:03, and Southwind Ricardo for Greg Sparling and owners Joel and Harold LeBlanc, Willie Seymour and Bernie Gillis in the day's fastest mile 1:57.3.

Also winning Saturday was Hot Rock Star for owner and driver Roddie Gillis in 2:03.1, Red Rum She Wrote for Martin Bates in 1:59.2, and Wenitrainsitpours in 2:01.4 for Mark Pezzarello and owners Jamie Hogan and Bette Lou Aucoin, winning by three lengths over Culpepper and Whiskeys Fine.

Fans wagered $12,995.00 on the afternoon.

The next live card is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.