Candyce Martins and Double Time laid down a marker during the harness racing season opener at the National Equestrian Centre.

Martins posted the fastest time on the racecard of 1min 3.1sec competing with her family’s nine-year-old mare in the Free for All division.

“I am very impressed with the mare’s performance and I look forward to the rest of the season with her,” Martins told The Royal Gazette.

Martins and Double Time are the holders of the Bermuda-bred mare’s record, which stands at 1:2.1.

The 20-year-old driver is fresh off of a sensational debut racing in the United States this summer, where she set world and track records competing with fellow Bermudian Eddie Roque’s five-year-old mare, MI’s Where’s the Party.

Meanwhile, Mello Family’ gelding, War Machine, posted the second fastest time of 1:3.3 competing in the same heat during last Sunday’s racecard at the Vesey Street racetrack.

Geldings Gold N’ Glory (Martins Family), Rockeyed Optimist (Maurice Raynor) and War Machine all grabbed a share of the third fastest time of 1min 4sec flat respectively also competing in the Free for All division.

Phillip Correia had a memorable outing with three wins while Martins, the only other driver with multiple victories, had two.

Martins Family’s five wins was the most by a stable followed by Graceland Stables two during the season opener, which has been hailed a success by the Driving Horse and Pony Club.

“The committee were very happy with the performances put in by the ponies at our opening race day,” read an association statement.

“Considering it was the first day out, the times and consistency of the performances were commendable.

“We had a successful race day with ten safe races and could not ask for much more than that.”

Harness racing continues at the National Equestrian Centre today, starting from 6pm.