Trainer/driver Jamie Gray swept both Alberta Sires Stakes Marquis eliminations with three-year-old pacing fillies Mothers Melody and Eliseuinthedust during Saturday afternoon's harness racing card at Alberta Downs, which also featured freshmen in a pair of ASHA Filly Stakes.
In the first of two the $10,000 ABSS eliminations, Mothers Melody sat seventh for most of the mile before storming home on the far outside in :28.1 for the 1:56.3 triumph to deliver on her pari-mutuel promise. She prevailed by half a length over Smilys Amira (Tyler Redwood), with Nighttraintovegas (Brandon Campbell) finishing over four lengths back in third. Pacesetter Make Three Wishes crossed the wire 10 lengths in arrears after leading through fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:27.
Gray shares ownership of Mothers Melody with Neil Malloch. The Camystic filly also won her eliminations of the Alberta Princess and Diamond legs before finishing third in each of those finals. She is also an ASHA Filly Stakes winner and is five-for-13 in her debut year with $34,911 in purse earnings.
In the second elimination, Eliseuinthedust trailed the fillies from post nine with a 16-1/2 length deficit at the first quarter, but circled the field and came out three lengths on top at the wire 1:55.3, with her final quarter also timed in :28.1. The 8-1 upsetter prevailed over favourite Barona Mercedes (Jim Marino), who was on the hook for the first fractions of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:26.2. Wrangler Rockette (Gerry Hudon) had the edge in a photo for show over five lengths behind.
Eliseuinthedust is a homebred Brandons Cowbody filly, who also went unraced at two and has three wins in nine starts this year with $13,091 earned in purses.
True Rock and Honey Booboolina won the $10,000 ASHA Filly Stakes.
True Rock briefly surrendered the lead at the third quarter mark to undefeated filly Fire Watch (Travis Cullen), but came back on down the stretch to take top honours. With Jim Marino catch-driving for trainer Kelly Hoerdt and partners Blair and Erna Corbeil, the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover won by two and a half lengths in a career-best 1:58. The victory was her second in nine starts. Blue Star Texas (Keith Clark) edged out favourite Fire Watch for second.
Driven by Brandon Campbell, Honey Booboolina swept from fourth to first after the first quarter and dug in down the stretch to fend off Cheer For Court (Keith Clark) and I Am Miss T (Jim Marino) in a win photo. The As Promised filly earned her first career win in five starts in a final time 1:58.3. Glenn Lutz trains Honey Booboolina for owners Timothy Kane, Brinsley Brooking Lutz, and Harvey Jaeger.
This week's $8,400 Fillies & Mares Open went to 16-1 longshot G Ts Selene and Bill Tainsh Jr., who prevailed in 1:54.3 by three lengths over Blue Star Beauty (J.F. Gagne) and Skade (Jim Marino) for trainer Gerald McGinn and co-owners Marjorie McGinn and Terry McGinn. The win was the first in Open company and second in 13 starts this year for the four-year-old As Promised mare.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.