Red Star Katrina Wins Century Open
Red Star Katrina kicked into action late to overtake the favourites and win the $9,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, which opened Century Downs' second anniversary card of harness racing on Saturday, April 1.
Favourite Mach Away (Mike Hennessy) followed second choice Skade (Brandon Campbell) through fractions of :28.4 and :58 before popping the pocket and edging ahead on the way to three-quarters in 1:27. Meanwhile, Red Star Katrina, who followed third in line for trainer/driver Tyler Redwood, then rallied out three-wide turning for home and held off the late-closing Remember Terror (David Kelly) down the stretch to win in 1:57.3 by three-quarters of a length. Mach Away finished third ahead of Skade, with American Passion (Nathan Sobey) completing the compact field.
Red Star Katrina, who was a runner-up in the Open to Mach Away last week, was sent postward as the 4-1 third choice and paid $10.30 to win.
The Mach Three-Red Star Biggirl mare, who was claimed last fall for $12,500 by Manitoba owner Ken Hanson, has become the Redwood "barn favourite." She has hit the board in all eight of her 2017 starts to earn $18,025.
Redwood bookended the eight-race card with driving wins, also scoring with Shock The Monkey ($2.70) for the Lance Ward stable.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.