Alberta-sired fillies headlined Northlands Park's Friday night (October 13) harness racing card competing in the Alberta Stardust, the final round of Sires Stakes for two-year-olds, and eliminations for the sophomore set's Marquis leg.
Following a pair of runner-up efforts in the Starlet and Starburst opening legs of the Alberta Sires Stakes, Roaring Home ($3.40) stole the show in Friday's first $27,100 Stardust division. The Mystery Chase-Rustys Puddin filly cruised wire-to-wire unchallenged, leading through fractions of :29, 1:00 and 1:28.2 and drawing off to stop the clock in a career-best 1:59. Keith Clark drives, trains and co-owns Roaring Home with partners John Hind of Calgary and Doris McDougall of Cochrane, Alta. The win was the first for the filly since her July 8 career debut at Century Downs. Shes On A Roll and True Horizon finished second and third, respectively.
Duannes Horizon ($20.90) followed up her maiden-breaking win from two weeks ago with another victory for trainer/driver Brandon Campbell. The Vertical Horizon-R B Ethel Mertz filly closed off the cover to prevail by three-quarters of a length over the pocket-pulling Paperback Thriller in 1:59.2. Pacesetter Maid In Alberta (:29.1, :59.4, 1:29.1) ultimately gave way to the popular first-over challenger and eventual third-place finisher, Bearcat Josie, and ended up fifth herself in a photo finish with Ginger Beer.
There were three $7,500 eliminations of the Marquis for the three-year-old pacing fillies, who will return to Northlands for next Friday's final.
In the first elimination, driver Jamie Gray sent Outlaw Imahotvixen ($6.20) from third to take the lead from Legs Like Tina on the way to the 1:27.4 third quarter mark. She then opened up two and three-quarter lengths before hitting the wire in a career-best 1:56.1. Joe Ratchford trains and co-owns the Blue Burner-Fox Valley Cherish filly with Gordon Baxter of Lac La Biche, Alta. Nightime Chase chased the winner home in second-place while Pickles On Top came from last to show, but was a non-threatening nine lengths away.
Northlands Filly Pace champion Outlaw Fireball ($2.10) pursued Wedding Dance, who had taken the lead at the :58 mid-mile mark in the second elimination and wore her down to win by a half-length in 1:56.2 for driver J.F. Gagne and trainer Marjorie Dumont. Also a winner of the Princess and Diamond finals, the Blue Burner-Watchasgirlsfoby filly will be aiming to sweep the Alberta Sires Stakes legs next weekend and to defend her Super Final title during the Challenge of Champions card on Saturday, Oct. 28. Outlaw Fireball is owned by Gagne, Peter Van Seggelen of Foothills, Alta., Carl Warnaar of Kelowna, B.C., and Tapron Holdings Ltd. of Heritage Pointe, Alta. Wedding Dance settled for second while Cenalta Cougar finished back in third.
In the final elimination, 3-5 favourite Steady Breeze ($2.70) cleared early on and fronted the field through panels of :29.1, :58.3 and 1:27 while keeping first-over challenger Shesamysterytome at bay for the one and a quarter-length victory in 1:57.1. Kelly Hoerdt drives, trains and co-owns the Camystic-Stelle Nel Cielo miss, who was the runner-up in the Princess final earlier this year. Breeder Bill Andrew of Calgary and Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta. also share ownership. Burn My Villa finished third.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Northlands Park.