Although the conditions were different, the results were the same. Kevin Siever’s Kalahari Riff defended his title in this year’s edition of the Saskatchewan Standardbred
Stake, sponsored by the Saskatchewan Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association, on Friday night over a muddy Marquis Downs track.
Power Maid (Glenn Le Drew) left from Post 4 and charged to the first quarter in :29.2 while Kalahari Riff and Siever got away third from the inside post position. From there, Get Out Of Town (Tyler Redwood) moved first-over but failed to advance on the tempo setter through middle splits of 1:02.2 and 1:34.4. Kalahari Riff, however, was able to make headway and the homebred son of Bo Knows Jate-Giro Lily took over the lead at three-quarters and drew away by over five lengths to win in 2:08.2.
Get Out Of Town was the runner-up and Bigtime Jackpot (Deborah Manning) finished third.
The win was Kalahari Riff’s sixth of the season in 15 starts and the lion’s share of the $6,000 purse lifted his earnings to $10,382. The five-year-old chestnut gelding has won 24 times in his career and sports a bankroll totaling $33,645.
In this week’s $2,200 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, Bubblemint, a four-year-old Marlow Hanover-Bouboulina mare owned by Max and Debra McInnes, Nancy Tamblyn and Larry Koroluk of Yorkton, Sask., rallied from fourth in the stretch to win in 2:07.1 by a half-length over Outlaw Watch Me (Brian Gray). Trained and driven by Kevin Sampson, Bubblemint notched her fifth win 20 outings this year bumping her earnings to $7,933. The winner of 13 races lifetime has earned $25,491.
To view Friday’s harness racing results, click here.