Hall of Fame horseman Keith Clark kicked off the Northlands Park fall meet Friday with a driving grand slam, which included two Premiers Stakes victories.
Clark won two of the four $25,000 stakes divisions with colt Beren Hanover and filly Beach Baby. The other Premiers Filly division went to Outlawlookslikrain while Big N Bad took the final colt split.
Beren Hanover front-stepped his way to a 1:58 victory. The Rocknroll Hanover-Bet Me Hanover colt left from post three and carved out fractions of :28, 1:00, and 1:28.4 while favourite Premium Attaction (Kelly Hoerdt) pulled the pocket and applied first over pressure before breaking stride. Beren Hanover was left alone on top entering the stretch, but the late-closing Blue Star Admiral (Bill Tainsh Jr.) made it a close finish, coming within a neck of the winner at the wire. Longshot Ariel Time (John Chappell) finished over seven lengths back in third.
Clark trains and co-owns Beren Hanover with Robert Jones. The win improved his lifetime record to 4-3-0 in nine starts and doubled his bankroll.
Harold Haining trainee Beach Baby extended her win streak to three with a 1:59.4 winning effort. The favoured filly left from post six and cleared to command after the :29.3 opening panel. She then fronted the field through middle splits of 1:00.1 and 1:29.3 while building up a five length lead on her foes. But that margin shrunk to one and three-quarter lengths by the time she reached the wire as Shadow Time (Jim Marino) came on for second. Crown And Ginger (Tim Brown) rounded out the top three finishers.
Donald Richardon's Royal Mattjesty-Beach Lightning filly now sports a record reading 3-1-2 in nine outings with $19,395 earned in purses.
Big N Bad cruised wire-to-wire in his division, winning by over four lengths in 1:58.2 after carving out fractions of :26.4, :56.3 and 1:26.3 in rein to Jim Marino. The Lance Ward trainee was followed by Burn The Floor (Rod Hennessy) and Play Me Right (Brandon Campbell).
The Badlands Hanover-Just Sassy gelding, who broke his maiden while making his sixth lifetime start, is owned by the J J J Stables. His earnings climbed to $16,276.
Trainer-driver Connie Kolthammer sent Outlawlookslikrain first over from fourth to win her division in 1:59.3 by more than three lengths. Wish I Was (Keith Clark) led the field through fractions of :28.3, 1:01, and 1:30.3 before being collared by Outlawlookslikrain. Favourite Kiss My Crouper (Ryan Grundy) followed the winner's cover to place while Barona Lilac (Kelly Hoerdt) came on for third.
The Smart Shark-Ladyreigns filly is owned and bred by the Outlaw Stable. She boasts three wins (including an Alberta Starlet division), two seconds and two third on her eight-race record and earnings totalling $38,098.
Clark's other winners on the 11-race card included Dewinton Destroyer and 2010 Premiers Colt champion Western Olympian.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Northlands Park.