Scratched sick from Northlands Park's first Fillies & Mares Open of the New Year last weekend, Sing Like An Angel returned to action a winner on Friday night in the weekly $10,000 distaff feature.
Travis Cullen opted to drive the five-year-old mare this time out while Philip Giesbrecht took the reins on stablemate Emmasphere.
Leaving from post three, Sing Like An Angel fronted the compact field of five through a :29-second first quarter. After the soft opening panel, Blue Star Beauty (Kelly Hoerdt) swept up from third to take over command and made her way to the half in :59. Meanwhile, Emmasphere advanced from the back of the pack to apply first over pressure, but she couldn't get past the leader. As Emmasphere stalled, 4-5 favourite American Passion (Gerry Hudon) moved three-wide from behind her near the 1:27.4 third quarter mark, but Cullen was quick to pull Sing Like An Angel from the pocket and charged up alongside Blue Star Beauty around the final turn. Down the stretch, Sing Like An Angel drew clear for the 1:57.2 triumph over the frozen track, with American Passion closing for second. Blue Star Beauty finished third while Emmasphere was fourth and Crackers Hot Shot a distanced fifth.
Sing Like An Angel paid $8.40 to win as the 3-1 second choice. The Bettors Delight mare now has three wins in a row for Manitoba owners Keith and Margaret Hannah of Waskada and Jodie and Ron Cullen of Glenboro. Sing Like An Angel had won her final two starts in 2014 in mid-December to cap off a career year that included 16 wins, 10 seconds and three thirds in 35 starts and purse earnings totalling $73,784.
Friday's win was her 24th lifetime and leaves her just shy of the $100,000 money mark. It was the fourth on the nine-race card for her trainer and driver, who also put up career-high numbers in 2014 and a nation-leading driving win percentage.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Northlands Park.