Stash The Cookies, Alberta's reigning Champion Aged Mare, stepped back into the spotlight on Friday, April 17 at Century Downs, winning the $14,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace.

Stash The Cookies went right to the front from the inside post for driver Mike Hennessy and led the five-horse field in post position order through panels of :28.3 and :58.2 before being confronted by last week's upset winner, Senga Nightmare (Ryan Grundy), as they raced by three-quarters head-to-head in 1:26.1. Stash The Cookies rebuffed that rival turning for home but had to contend with another, as 17-1 longshot Sandras Mystery (Brandon Campbell) snuck up the passing lane. Holding on by a neck, Stash The Cookies prevailed in 1:54.4 over the "good" track. Finishing over a length behind, Senga Nightmare held third just ahead of a late-charging Poker Queen (Phil Giesbrecht), while Baby Limbo (Kelly Hoerdt) completed the lineup.

After finishing second by less than a length last week in her return from a two-month winter break, Stash The Cookies delivered on her 4-5 pari-mutuel promise in the Friday feature and paid $3.60 to win.

Chris Lancaster is currently handling the training duties for the Gilbert family. The Sunfire Blue Chip-Saucy B mare is owned by Fred and Alice Gilbert of Brandon, Man. She has opened her 10-year-old campaign with two wins and two seconds from five starts and now boasts 49 career victories. The lion's share of the purse put her lifetime earnings over the $500,000 mark.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Century Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)