History Made At The Track On 2
With more than $200,000 in purses offered on the program, The Track On 2 hosted the richest single day in the track's history on Sunday (Aug. 20).
The $70,000 ASHA Filly Pace was one of two feature races on the card that was moved to The Track On 2 from Century Downs and showed nine freshman fillies going to the gate.
Outlawguns N Roses (Phil Giesbrecht) held nothing back and stormed to the top from post four. Giesbrecht and the Rod Starkewski trainee clicked out panels in :28.1, :58.2 and 1:27.3 before crossing the wire 2-1/2 lengths in front in 1:55.1. Sandras Mystery (Brandon Campbell) followed the pocket trip to second and Foothills Magic (Jamie Gray) rounded out the top three.
Owned by Starkewski and Clauzette Byckal, Outlawguns N Roses collected her second win in four starts with a career-best time. She paid $3.20 to win.
Come On Santana won the $70,000 Century Casino Pace, the second of two races that were moved to The Track On 2.
Jamie Gray and Come On Santana took the early lead to the quarter in :28.2 when Grey Horizon (Brandon Campbell) took control of the field of nine. Grey Horizon led through the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:27.2 while Come On Santana was shuffled back to fourth. Come On Santana rallied back and challenged Grey Horizon in the stretch. In the race that went down to the wire, Come On Santana prevailed by a half length in 1:55.4. Grey Horizon settled for second and Hf Winknat Shadows (Doug Chappell) took third.
Gray trains and co-owns the freshman gelding with Max Gibb and Riley & Brie Gray for his second win in four starts with a career best-time. Come On Santana paid $3.50 to win.
Cozey Up upset her field of nine four-year-old mares after she won the $27,000 Elizabeth "Liz" Johnson Memorial final.
Mike Hennessy was in the bike of his trainee as they entered post six along the gate. As the car pulled away, Bb Bad Tothebone (James Jungquist) designated herself as the pacesetter for the mile. She led the field through panels in :28.2, :56.1 and 1:25. Meanwhile, Cozey Up was working her way up from seventh at the opening panel to first over in sixth at the half and then second over in fifth at the three-quarters. Cozey Up still sat fourth in the final turn, but after maneuvering down the lane, she found herself challenging Katie Lou (Brandon Campbell) for the win. At the wire, Cozey Up had won by a quarter of a length in 1:54 and Katie Lou took second. Lets Go To Vegas (Jamie Gray) rounded out the top three.
Cozey Up scored jer third seasonal win in a career-best time for owners Shelly Arsenault and Jason & Tracey Peters. She paid $17.50 to win.
Blast Of Sunshine won the $26,800 Ron Orr Pace final with Giesbrecht in the bike for Gerry Hudon.
Outlawchippendale (Campbell) and Keepsgettingbettor (Nathan Sobey) battled it out for the lead while Blast Of Sunshine settled into fourth. They passed the opening panel in :27.3 and Blast Of Sunshine stayed along the pylons through the half in :56.2. Before the three-quarters in 1:25.3, Giesbrecht tipped out with Blast Of Sunshine, following the lead of first-over Light My Shadow (Kelly Hoerdt). Blast Of Sunshine took command in the final turn and sprinted home to win by seven lengths in a career-best 1:53. Keepsgettingbettor was second and Needabankloan (J.F. Gagne) finished third.
Monica Hudon, Denise Andrew and Jocelyn Giesbrecht co-own the four-year-old Sunshine Beach son as he moved his seasonal record to 9-1-5 in 16 starts. Blast Of Sunshine paid $5.60 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - The Track On 2.