Northlands Park hosted a group of Alberta-bred stakes events for the two and three-year-old colt and gelding pacers on its Saturday, October 14 program.
Paradise Hill took control after the quarter to win the first of three divisions of the $56,000 Shooting Star two-year-old colt and gelding pace in 1:58.
Sitting second to Real Sharp through a :29.3 opening quarter, 1-2 favourite Paradise Hill circled to the lead, going unchallenged through fractions of :58.4 and 1:28.4 before coasting two-and-a-half lengths clear of Mystery Coz taking second, with Outlaw Magalodon recovering from a break at the start to take third.
A gelding by Vertical Horizon out of the Grinfromeartoear mare Armbro Cool, Paradise Hill, returning $3.00 to win, competes for owner-trainer Rodney Hennessy along with partners Lorne Duffield and Diane Harries.
Freedoms Rescue moved to the front and held control in the second division of the Shooting Star, winning in 1:58.1.
Getting away second to Snap Test, Freedoms Rescue moved to the top following a :30 quarter, moving to the half in 1:00.4 before undergoing pressure from 3-2 favourite Jet Juice first over. Holding a narrow lead as Jet Juice challenged to three-quarters, Freedoms Rescue passed that station in 1:28.3 as Its A Great White attempted to soar three wide, faltering into the stretch as Freedoms Rescue held a length-and-a-quarter advantage over Snap Test in second, with Jet Juice fading to third.
Owned by William and Diane Neish, Freedoms Rescue, a gelding by Freedoms Pass out of the Rescue Me mare Me Myself And I, is trained by Glenn Lutz and was driven by J. Brandon Campbell. He paid $5.40 to win.
Outlaw True Grit brushed to the top moving into the final turn to win as the favourite in the final division of the shooting star, pacing in 1:56.4.
Positioned third, Outlaw True Grit sat off a :28 quarter set by Tap The Keg, who was soon overtaken by Custards Laststand moving to the half. Timed in :58.1, Outlaw True Grit began his first-over move, rushing past Custards Laststand to clear the lead before three-quarters, timed in 1:27.1. He kicked away to a two-length lead into the stretch, holding two-and-a-half lengths over Custards Laststand in second, while Mortgage My Villa was another nine lengths behind in third.
A gelding by Blue Burner from the Cams Card Shark mare Gunslingin Gal, Outlaw True Grit, owned by trainer Rodney Starkewski and co-owner Clauzette Byckal, was driven by William Tainsh Jr. and paid $2.80 to win.
Getup Gideon took the first of two divisions of the $15,000 Maverick three-year-old colt and gelding pace, winning in 1:58.1.
Unchallenged through splits of :28.1 and :56.4, Getup Gideon endured first-over pressure from Outlaw Blue Ice coming to three-quarters, timed in 1:26.1 before turning him away in the stretch. Off a rail trip, Cold Case closed into the competition late in the stretch, coming a head short of the winner, while pocket-sitter Freedoms Fellow finished third.
Owned by trainer Rodney Starkewski, Getup Gideon, returning $8.80, was driven by Philip Giesbrecht.
Senga Nitro swept into contention around the final turn, powering to a two-length victory in the other Maverick split, winning in 1:56.1.
Mateo set the tempo, going fractions of :28.4 and :59 prior to Senga Nitro advancing towards the leader first over at three-quarters, timed in 1:28. Into the stretch, Senga Nitro overtook the odds-on favourite, kicking away as Amysterytome moved up to take second from Mateo, finishing third.
A gelding by Blue Burner out of the Falcons Future mare Nells Sweet Future, Senga Nitro, returning $5.80 to win, competes for owner Kenneth Gunn. He's trained and driven by Ryan Grundy.
Trainer Rodney Starkewski had a training hat trick on the program, with his third winner coming with Outlawintriguedbyu, going wire to wire in 1:58.4 in a conditioned filly and mare claimer. Owned by Fun For Fans and driven by David Kelly, she paid $8.90 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northlands Park.