The National Equestrian Centre played host to a dramatic day of harness racing as season standouts Smart Machine and Candyce Martins set a blistering pace on the Vesey Street track.
It was an afternoon defined by razor-thin margins and elite speed, with the presiding judge called into action to settle a high-stakes opening heat. In the first 1:03&0 and Faster Time Bar Class, Martins and Smart Machine went nose-to-nose with Philip Correia behind Red October. Both ponies stopped the clock at 1:02&3, forcing a judicial review that eventually saw Martins awarded the win in one of the tightest finishes of the season.
While the opening heat was a battle of attrition, the eighth heat of the 1:03&0 and Faster Division Time Bar Class saw a pure display of raw speed. Representing Belhaven Stables, Smart Machine once again showcased why he is considered the pony to beat in 2026.
With Martins at the helm, the gelding powered through the final turn to record a 1:02&1 finish—the fastest time of the entire race day. The performance further cements the duo’s dominance in the top-tier division as they continue to flirt with long-standing track records.
The competitive nature of the meet was not limited to the elite class, as the 1:03&1 - 1:04&1 Time Bar Class produced two of the most discussed finishes of the afternoon.
In heat five, Philip Correia found himself on the right side of a close call. Driving Gold Rush, Correia narrowly edged out Tahzii Flood and Huntinforgold, finishing in 1:03&2 compared to Flood’s 1:03&3. The result served as a measure of revenge for Correia after his narrow loss earlier in the day.
The drama continued into heat fourteen, featuring the Rookie class within the same time bar. Maurice Raynor, piloting Rockeyed Optimist, managed to hold off a late charge from Teshi and Somegoldsomewhere. Raynor crossed the line in 1:03&3, just a fraction ahead of Somegoldsomewhere's 1:03&4, capping off a day where every hundredth of a second proved vital.
Click Here to see the Full 2026 Harness Pony Racing Results
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