Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings wrapped up the regular Alberta Sires Stakes season on Sunday afternoon at Alberta Downs with a new winner emerging to take the $49,800 Alberta Maverick Final.
Outlaw Gunpowder ($12.70) turned in the best effort of his career to defeat Plainsman champion Sotally Tober and Marksman winner Blue Eyed Cowboy.
Driven by Philip Giesbrecht, the Smart Shark-Fox Valley Cherish colt kicked home off a three-hole trip in :27.4 and wore down pacesetter Sotally Tober (:28.2, :57.4, 1:25) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.3, shaving one full second off his lifetime mark. Even-money favourite Blue Eyed Cowboy stalled first over down the backstretch, but came on to finish third, one and three-quarter lengths behind.
Outlaw Gunpowder's sophomore record now reads 3-3-3 in 15 starts with his seasonal earnings climbing to $36,678. Trainer Kelly Hoerdt shares ownership of the Outlaw Stable-bred bay colt with Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta.
The top performers from all divisions of the Alberta Sires Stakes will return to Alberta Downs for the Battle of Alberta Super Finals on Saturday, Nov. 1.
In other action, the unstoppable Who Doesnt ($5.80) pushed his win streak into the double digits as he defeated a field of Alberta's top older pacers in 1:52.3 for the Cullen family. Trainer Travis Cullen completed a training triple on the day and a sweep of the week's top class events as he had also won Saturday's Mares Open with Sing Like An Angel.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Alberta Downs.