Blue Star Beauty extended her undefeated win streak to six with an open length victory in the first of two $27,400 Alberta Sires Stakes Starburst divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies held on Saturday afternoon at Alberta Downs
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Heavy 1-5 favourite Blue Star Beauty and driver Bill Tainsh Jr. blasted to command from fifth down the backstretch and kicked away to the seven and a half length victory in 1:57.4. Born With A Grin finished second off a pocket trip and G I Joan came on for third.
The As Promised-Whitesand Secret filly was purchased for $2,000 at the ASHA Yearling Sale and has banked close to $70,000 so far in her career for trainer Doug Stout and owner Derek Stout of Camrose, Alta.
Popcorn, another 1-5 favourite, sat fifth for most of the mile and rallied three-wide around the final turn in the second division to come on for the career-best 1:58.1 win. The pocket pulling Cool One finished one and three-quarter lengths behind in second with pacesetter Cloud Nine back in third.
The daughter of Camystic-Pop Art now sports two wins and five seconds in seven outings on her lifetime record with earnings over $37,000 for trainer-driver Jamie Gray, who also shares ownership with Fred Gilbert and Richard Osterbeck of Brandon, MB.
In the $8,800 Open Pace, 13-1 longshot Flak Jacket sat fourth for most of the mile before sprinting home to prevail in 1:54.2 by one and a quarter lengths over the pocket-pulling Hilldrop Shady and favourite Clintons Escape. The four-year-old son of Brandons Cowboy-Jackies Wacky, whose last win came in an Open on Aug. 1, is owned by Gray, Gilbert, Osterbeck and Neil Malloch of Wetaskiwin, Alta.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.