Two-year-old pacers were the stars of the show Monday afternoon at Century Downs as they battled in rich divisions of the Alberta Shooting Star and Alberta Stardust.
The colts and geldings were up first in the Alberta Shooting Star, and Wrangler Cash was a dominant winner in his $27,400 assignment for trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt. The son of As Promised-W Jean was treated to a two-hole trip behind Keep Coming, who threw down fractions of :29, :58 and 1:27.3. Wrangler Cash stepped out of the pocket late and only needed a :32-second closing quarter to win by 3-1/4 lengths over even-money favourite Outlaw Turn N Burn in 1:59.4. Taking home third prize was Archie Bunker.
Sent off at odds of 4-1, Wrangler Cash improved his rookie record to 2-3-1 from 10 starts with the win. He’s stashed away more than $38,000 to date for Hoerdt and partners Blair Corbeil and Dr. Maurice Stewart.
Royal Dragon blew away the foes he faced in the $27,100 second division. The son of Blue Burner-Albertas Dragon was no worse than third through first-half fractions of :29.3 and 1:00, but he brushed to the lead in the backstretch and had the field chasing him at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.3. A :31-second closing panel helped propel him to the 14-length score over Outlaw Gettinrdone in 1:59.3. Outlaw Kismet was third.
Travis Cullen mapped out the winning trip for the gelding, who is owned and trained by Greg Manning of Airdrie, AB. The homebred now boasts a 3-1-1 record from six starts in addition to a cash stash of $27,367.
Cullen also guided Jet Blue Burner to an easy victory in the first division of the Alberta Stardust for two-year-old pacing fillies. The daughter of Blue Burner-Blinkanyoumissit was parked to the quarter pole in :29 before eventually working her way to the front in the $27,700 affair. She front-stepped through middle fractions of :58.4 and 1:28.3 before using a :31.2 closing panel to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Top It Up in 2:00. Taking home the show dough was Cenalta Artistry.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Jet Blue Burner won for the fourth time in five tries for owners Keith Hannah, Travis Cullen, Dwayne Taylor and Jodie Cullen. The youngster has banked more than $40,000 along the way.
Outlawtriggerhappy extended her winning streak to two-in-a-row thanks to her 2:02.2 triumph in the other division. Bill Tainsh, Jr. put the filly on the lead right from the outset and she successfully carved out intervals of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:29.3 before using a :32.4 closing quarter to seal the deal. She won by 2-3/4 lengths over Awhimaway, with Ba Bye Ceia Later rounding out the top three finishers.
Trainer Rod Starkewski shares ownership on the two-time winner with Clauzette Byckal of Spruce Grove, AB. Together, they’ve watched the rookie rack up a 2-3-2 record from eight starts in addition to purse earnings totaling $35,723.
Ghost Pine kicked off the 11-race card with a 1:54.4 triumph in the $12,500 Open Pace. In rein to trainer Kelly Hoerdt, the four-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Just Sassy led the field through fractions of :28.4, :58 and 1:26.3 before turning on the jets and drawing away to the six-length tally. Sotally Tober and Get Thereovernight rounded out the top three finishers.
Hoerdt shares ownership on the pacer with Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, AB, and together they’ve watched the campaigner post a 7-5-2 record from 22 trips to the track this season. The 17-time winner has banked close to $120,000 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Century Downs.