Trainer-driver Paul Davies sent odds-on favourite Outlawgrabbingears to the front and kicked clear to a 1:51.2 victory in the $45,400 Maverick Final at Century Mile on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Outlawgrabbingears cleared control from post 7 while pylon-starter Hf Jesse James secured the pocket heading to a :27.3 first quarter. Outlaw Gunsablazin, positioned fifth, tipped first over before a :56 half but could not reach Outlawgrabbingears as the pacesetter tripped three-quarters in 1:24 and scooted away through the stretch. Crackle N Burn angled off a helmet and dashed past Hf Jesse James to take second, finishing four-and-three-quarter lengths behind Outlawgrabbingears.
Winning his ninth race from 16 starts this season and his 16th from 25 overall, Outlawgrabbingears has earned $242,585 for Paul Davies, Nicole Davies and Deborah Pinel. The gelded son of Smart Shark paid $3.60 to win.
Earlier on the card three $17,100 divisions went for the Shooting Star—an Alberta-bred event for two-year-old pacing colts. Just Mac won the quickest division off a pocket ride, stopping the clock in 1:54.4.
Odds-on favourite Dontpokethedragon cleared Just Mac for the lead passing a :28.4 opening quarter and went uncontested to a :58.1 half. Buerger pulled first over from fifth and ventured towards Dontpokethedragon approaching three-quarters in 1:27.1 but lost ground rounding the final turn. Driver Michael Hennessy sent Just Mac from the pocket straightening for the finish and nailed Dontpokethedragon in the final strides to win by a half length while Buerger finished eight lengths behind in third.
A colt by Mystician, Just Mac won his second race from nine starts, earning $18,173 for owners Rod Therres and Blair Miller. Chris Lancaster conditions the $9.20 winner.
Criminal Record went wire to wire in the opening division as the 7-5 favourite.
Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt cleared command with Criminal Record from Whiplash Smile moving to a :28.3 opening quarter. He soon faced first-over pressure from Outlawfryreyesonly past a :57.4 half and turned away the challenge after three-quarters in 1:26.1. Criminal Record turned for home with a two-length advantage and maintained that margin to finish a 1:55.2 mile. Westcoast Dragon kicked off cover for second while Horse closed from last for third.
Co-owned by Hoerdt with Ralph Morrow and Jacques Lambert, Criminal Record won his third race from eight starts, earning $27,573. The Mystery Chase colt paid $4.60 to win.
Trip Hammer rode cover in the other Shooting Star division to a blowout victory in 1:56.3.
Pylon-starter Ragged But Right pushed for the front while the field lined single file heading to a :29.3 opening quarter. Trainer-driver Nate Sobey soon sent Trip Hammer off the cones from fifth and ventured forward into a :59.4 half before grabbing cover from Freddy Two Socks in the backstretch. Freddy Two Socks matched strides with the pacesetter passing three-quarters in 1:29.3 and struggled to slide past the leader while Trip Hammer fanned three wide. The gelded son of Trust The Artist surged past Freddy Two Socks entering the stretch and widened to a four-and-a-half length victory. Ima Momas Boy rode the pylons for third.
Owned by Nate Sobey, Diane Bertrand, Robert Gilhespy and Terry Ostashek, Trip Hammer won his second race from nine starts, earning $23,030. He paid $11.60 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Mile.