In order to win a $7,500 elimination of the Alberta Princess on Saturday (May 18) at Century Downs, a very simple formula needed to be followed.

That formula was: (1) be the betting favourite in your elimination; (2) leave strongest off the gate; (3) cut the mile and (4) repel all challengers.

While it sounds simple, it's much easier said than done. That said, some of the elimination winners made it look easier than others.

The horse that seemed to have the easiest time making it to the front end in her elim was Hottieonthehorizon. Driver Kelly Hoerdt used his rail position to seize control of the race and faced nary an anxious moment through fractions of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:27 before sealing the deal with a :29.1 final quarter to trip the timer three-quarters of a length better than Gin Twist (James Jungquist) with pocket-sitting Bearcat Romi (james Gray) another three back to complete the triactor.

Owned by Hoerdt and breeder Leslie Godlien along with Rick Lancaster, Hottieonthehorizon (Vertical Horizon - As Hot As Promised) picked up her third straight win and third win of the season to bump her six-start summary to 3-0-2 and lift her earnings to $13,858.

On the other end of the spectrum, Rockin Mystery was favoured in the second Princess elimination but had drawn the outside post eight. A scratch of Pure Addition from the rail moved all starters but the trailer (Wrangler Betraine) meaning that Rockin Mystery and driver Brandon Campbell had one less rival to outsprint for the lead, and they did before clicking off the first split in :28.2. Middle panels of :59 and 1:28 gave Rockin Mystery enough of a breather to open up a four-length cushion on pocket-sitting Summer Fantasy (Mike Hennessy) and every inch gained was necessary to hold off that rival in the stretch. Rockin Mystery just got to the wire ahead of Summer Fantasy, winning by a head in 1:56.4. Western Summit (Keith Clark) grabbed show dough.

Trained in Alberta by 2018 Rising Star Award winner Chris Lancaster for BC-based owners Rod Therres and Blair Miller, Rockin Mystery (Mystery Chase - Cant Stop Rockin) picked up her second win of the season from six starts. In 15 career outings, Rockin Mystery sports a 6-1-4 summary and five of those wins have come under the tutelage of Lancaster.

Although yet to have her picture taken coming into Saturday's card, Maxsamian was picked as the public's choice in the third elimination and she did not disappoint. With Phil Giesbrecht at the controls, Maxsamian forged to the front from post four and landed on the lead before the :28.3 opening quarter. The half was reached in a tepid :59.2, allowing Maxsamian to save some energy for the end of her mile and she responded with a :28.1 third quarter down the backside and then gained separation on all of her rivals turning for home. Up by three at the wire, Maxsamian tripped the timer in a lifetime best 1:56.4 over Cayley Skye (Tony Succarotte) and Heartbeatnsizzle (Hoerdt).

Owned by Morrine Kennedy and trained by Rod Starkewski, Maxsamian (Mystery Chase - Indigo Blue) has yet to finish third as a sophmore with a 1-2-2 record from five starts. Her seasonal earnings sit just under the $10,000 mark.

The top three fillies from each division will come back in one week's time on May 25 for the $40,000 Alberta Princess Final.

For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Century Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.