Trust The Artist advanced to the lead early on in the $11,500 Open at Northlands Park on Saturday afternoon and controlled the pace the rest of the way en route to his fourth straight victory

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After getting away fourth off the gate, Trust The Artist and trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt brushed to command ahead his 1-2 entrymate, Dees Promise (Bill Tainsh Jr.), past the :29.2 opening quarter. The six-year-old son of Real Artist-Abreachoftrust proceeded to the half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:27.3 without facing any serious challengers and sprinted home to extend his win streak, which began back in April, to four. He stopped the clock in 1:56.4, winning by three and a quarter lengths. Flak Jacket (Jamie Gray) advanced first over to edge out Dees Promise in a photo for second.

Trust The Artist returned $3.10 to his backers for the win, his fifth of the year in 10 starts. The lion’s share of the purse pushed his earnings to $31,142 for 2010 and $441,109 lifetime for Hoerdt and co-owners Blair Corbeil and Mike McAllister of Beaumont, Alta.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.