Despite the absence of their trainer Keith Clark, who was stateside after searching for more stable stars at this year's Lexington Select Yearling Sale, three-year-old pacing fillies Cam Finish and Blue Star Texas swept the Alberta Sires Stakes Marquis eliminations on Saturday at Century Downs.
Cam Finish proved she can finish as she was fifth and last through the first half-mile and then rallied home off cover for a 19-1 upset in her $10,000 elimination. Cam Finish defeated pacesetter Take On Da Boys, who had led through panels of :29.2, :59.1, 1:27.3. She won by a quarter-length in a career-best 1:58 mile for her Calgary owners John Hind and Verne Rea. Gerry Hudon stepped into drive the Camystic-Expensive Return filly for Clark, who will be back home on Sunday for the sophomore colt division's Alberta Maverick eliminations. My Camalina followed in the pocket and finished third while 1-9 favourite Fire Watch was fourth.
Blue Star Texas was the even-money favourite in the following elimination and she converted off a pocket trip to deliver on her pari-mutuel promise, with Philip Giesbrecht working out the winning trip for owners Doris McDougall of Cochrane and Robert Jones of Slave Lake, Alta. The Brandons Cowboy-Movin Uptown filly won the elimination by two lengths in 1:58.2. Beauty Of Nature finished second, just ahead of 8-5 second choice My Villas On Fire, who had carved out fractions of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:28 before being passed in the stretch.
Travis Cullen enjoyed a training/driving grand slam on the 10-race card while trainer Glenn Lutz teamed up with driver Jim Marino for a double.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.