Grey Sea earned her third straight win in the Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace at Century Downs while driver Phil Giesbrecht enjoyed some winning momentum of his own to sweep half the card on Friday, Aug. 14.

In the $15,000 distaff feature, even-money favourite Poker Queen and Giesbrecht got the first call from post four but outside post six assignee Grey Sea surged to command in a :27.4 opening quarter for Kelly Hoerdt. Grey Sea then stole a second-quarter breather to the half in :57.3 and raced on to three-quarters in 1:26.2 with 20-1 longshot Blowing Inthe Wind and James Jungquist sweeping up to try to rock the boat, but Grey Sea held her off to score in 1:54.3 by half a length over the "good" track. Poker Queen threatened up the inside but finished one length back in third.

Despite posting back-to-back wins in the Mares Preferred class, Grey Sea was the 2-1 second choice to Poker Queen in the wagering. She returned $6.50 to her backers.

Gord Abbott trains the seven-year-old grey mare, a homebred daughter of Custard The Dragon and Preference, for owner Seaspray Stables of Nanaimo, B.C. Grey Sea now has seven wins in 16 seasonal starts and 35 career victories, with earnings totalling $323,210.

Giesbrecht had the hot hands on Friday, winning five of the evening's 10 races. Giesbrecht was a winner right out of the gate with the maiden-breaking sophomore filly Crop Top ($5.30) in the opener for trainer Jim Marino. His next win was in third race with trainer Brinsley Brooking Lutz's four-year-old mare Bewitched ($8.90) followed by a sixth race score catch-driving the four-year-old mare Eyes Of The Heart ($2.10) for Chris Lancaster. Giesbrecht capped off the night with a sweep of the late Daily Double, giving Lancaster another victory with five-year-old distaffer Sandras Mystery ($11.90) and winning with four-year-old male pacer Shadow Boxing ($13.40) for his father-in-law, trainer Gerry Hudon.

Giesbrecht pushed his 2026 win count to 90 as he chases a fifth straight season topping 100 victories. He's earned 62 of his wins this year at Century Downs, where he ranks third in the driver standings behind current meet leader Mike Hennessy and runner-up Brandon Campbell.

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

(Standardbred Canada)