Trainer-driver Brent Grundy pulled off a pair of upsets with Freddy B Reddy and Takem Todakleaners while the Doug Shaw-trained Shaky Deal lowered the track record for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings in Alberta Sires Stakes action at Alberta Downs on Saturday afternoon

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Freddy B Reddy was ready to go in the first $22,100 Alberta Rising Star division as he fired to the lead from Post 2 and put up the first quarter in :29 with the even-money favourite Hi May Promise (Keith Clark) dropping into the pocket.

A parked out Mystery Card (Clinton Warrington, Jr.) touched down on the front after the first quarter mark but trainer-driver Brent Grundy sent Freddy B Reddy out and around that one for the re-take before the half in :59.4.

Once Freddy B Reddy settled on top, Hi May Promise made his move and opened up five lengths on the field by three-quarters in 1:29.2. Meanwhile, a pair of breaks made by Mystery Card and Cattle Baron (Rod Hennessy) caused interference to most of the trailing field.

In the stretch, Freddy B Reddy moved back out and put away Hi May Promise to win by four and a half lengths in 1:59.2. Bachelor Pad (Gerry Hudon) came on for second over Hi May Promise.

Freddy B Reddy paid $27.50 to win for the upset. The son of Camystic- Freenelsonpandela was purchased for $11,000 at the ASHA Yearling Sale by Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, Terri and Chris Menard of Sherwood Park, and Paul Wood of Edmonton, AB. The win was his first in three starts and brought his connections out of the red as his earnings jumped to $11,050.

Grundy was back in the winner’s circle after taking the next $22,100 division with Takem Todakleaners. The son of As Promised-Rain Drop Hanover got away fifth while Blue Star Charger (Keith Clark) put up a :28.3 first quarter.

As the field raced down the backstretch, favourite Roper (Rod Hennessy) brushed up from third and carved out middle splits of :59.2 and 1:29. Blue Star Charger moved back out for more but Takem Todakleaners went three-wide around the final turn and sprinted away to score by over three lengths in a new mark of 1:58 flat. Silent Rescue (John Chappell) came in second with Branding Party (Jim Marino) third.

Takem Todakleaners paid $10.50 to win as the 4-1 second choice. The son of As Promised-Rain Drop Hanover, who was purchased for $2,000 at the ASHA Yearling Sale, picked up his second win in three starts and lifted his earnings to $13,350 for owners Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, Thomas Menard and Sherri Sorensen of Sherwood Park, AB.

The third and final $22,400 division went to the popular Shaky Deal, driven by Brandon Campbell and trained by Doug Shaw. The son of As Promised-All Tuned Up left from Post 2 and reached the opening station in :29-seconds.

Fussins Big Boy (Rod Starkewski) made a backstretch brush from third and opened up three lengths on the field by the half in :59, but Shaky Deal stepped around the leader and hit three-quarters in 1:28.1 with a fourth-length lead. He cruised home to set a new track record for freshmen pacing colts in 1:57.3. Sterling Cooper had lowered Western Olympian’s 1:59.3 record by one second in today’s qualifying session before Shaky Deal knocked another second off the mark. B R Money Matters (Gerry Hudon) finished second and Tap Room (Rod Hennessy) rounded out the top three.

Shaky Deal paid $4.70 to win for the first time in two starts. Shaw shares ownership the $11,752 winner with Ann Jaeger of Okotoks, Timothy Kane of St. Albert and Dr. David Dyrholm of Calgary, AB.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.