Wrangler Rockette went wire-to-wire and held off the streaking mare Tajmeallover to win the $30,000 Bev Sears Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.
Leaving from post two, 3-1 second choice Wrangler Rockette and trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt established the lead into a :28.1 first quarter and then took a second quarter breather to the half :58.1 while G Ts Jamie (Bill Tainsh Jr.) committed first over from mid-pack.
Down the backstretch, Wrangler Rockette began to pick up the pace again and separated herself from the field, with G Ts Jamie taking over second-place three lengths behind. Meanwhile, 3-5 favourite Tajmeallover (J.F. Gagne) was hoping to continue her seasonal win streak that stretched back six races and she swept three-wide from third over in pursuit of the leader.
Wrangler Rockette continued to lead the way past the three-quarters mark in 1:25.4 and turned for home with Tajmeallover chasing her down the stretch but ultimately coming up one and a half lengths short. Closing from second over, Sportsonthebeach (Travis Cullen) claimed third-place over nine lengths behind.
Wrangler Rockette matched her lifetime mark of 1:54.3 that she had taken last year in the Alberta Sires Stakes Consolation. The four-year-old Brandons Cowboy-Ja El Sharock mare is owned and bred by Dr. Maurice Stewart and Maureen Stewart of Leduc, Alta.
Completing a sweep of her elimination and the final of the stakes event, Wrangler Rockette is now two-for-two in her aged campaign. Unraced as a two-year-old, she now sports a career summary reading 6-4-2 in 17 starts with her earnings climbing to nearly $40,000.
Bev Sears and her husband George joined the connections of Wrangler Rockette in the winner's circle to make the blanket presentation. The stakes event is for three and four-year-old pacing fillies and mares that are non-winners of $35,000 lifetime as of December 31, 2014.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.