Two-year-olds Shark Festival and undefeated Nighttraintovegas turned in a pair of winning efforts as the race favourites in the Emerald Filly Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Alberta Downs.

Shark Festival ($2.70) won the first $25,000 division in 1:58 for trainer/driver Keith Clark, who also shares ownership of the homebred Shadow Play-Shark Fest filly with Harvey and Ann Jaeger of Okotoks, Alta.

Shark Festival established the early lead from post two and put up a :29.3 opening panel before giving way to Barona Mercedes (Kelly Hoerdt). The new leader reached the half in 1:01 and raced to three-quarters in 1:30.4 with Shark Festival flushed back out and pressing. The favourite unleashed a :27.1 final panel to put away Barona Mercedes and prevail by one length ahead of second over Triple Action (Brandon Campbell). The winner's stablemate, Rummys Command (Bobby Clark), finished third.

Shark Festival has now posted back-to-back wins in three pari-mutuel starts.

Nighttraintovegas ($2.30) went two-for-two in her young career with a 1:57 score in the second division for driver Brandon Campbell and trainer/co-breeder Richard Schneider. The homebred Camystic-Midnight In Vegas filly is owned by Edmonton's David Halmosi and Dick Schneider of Sherwood Park, Alta.

Nighttraintovegas blasted to command from her outer post eight starting spot and carved out opening panels of :28.1 and :59.3 before a from-last Mystic Return (Keith Clark) rolled up to apply heavy pressure past the 1:29 third quarter mark. However, the favourite rebuffed that challenger with a :28-second final frame, pacing away to win by four an a half lengths. Mystic Return stayed for second while Justapassin Fanci (Gerry Hudon) finished third.

The win completed a training triple on the 11-race card for Schnieder and a five-win performance for Campbell.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.