Smart Machine sets fastest time of season
Belhaven Stables gelding Smart Machine and driver Candyce Martins blazed to a season-best time during the latest round of harness racing at the Bermuda Equestrian Centre.
The duo posted 1:03 flat in the opening heat in the Free for All division to shave a second off the previous mark of 1:04 they set at the Vesey Street racetrack last month.
It proved to be another memorable outing for Belhaven Stables as it won three of the four heats contested in the Free for All division with Martins at the helm of Smart Machine and mare Double Time.
The stable’s stallion Reel Desire also picked up two wins in the combined 1:05/2-1:06/2 and 1:06/3-1:08/3 time bars with rookie driver Liam Stones in the bike.
Owner/driver Martins is pleased with the early-season success of her ponies.
“All the ponies are presently showing great times,” she told The Royal Gazette.
“We are still early and in the season and I’m looking forward to the rest of it.”
Phillip Correia and gelding Red October took the win in the remaining heat in the Free for All division, which features the island’s fastest harness ponies.
Also picking up three wins was Tahzil Flood at the helm of Belhaven Stables geldings Inwood’s Realist and HuntinForGold in the Junior Free for All division.
“I’m very impressed with Inwood’s Realist; he loves his job and gives 100 per cent every race he’s in,” Flood said.
“My three-year-old old gelding, HuntinForGold, went pretty good. He’s starting to show some talent, and I’m happy with him. “I’m excited to see what the rest of the season brings for the both of them.”
Catrina Stephens and Correia both came away with two wins.
Stephens swept both heats in the 1:08/4 and slower division with her mare Gold Legacy, with Correia’s other win coming in the Junior Free for All division at the helm of Simsfield Stables stallion Gold Rush.
