Rookie pacers were in the spotlight at Northlands Park on Sunday as the Edmonton, Alberta oval hosted a quartet of $25,000 Premier’s eliminations – two for the colts and geldings and two for the fillies
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The gals were up first, and Rossridge Fortune held on for a narrow score for trainer/driver Keith Clark after holding a three-length lead at the top of the stretch. The daughter of Brandons Cowboy-Whippet brushed to the lead shortly after the half and then outlasted her foes to the finish. Wish Hope N Pray was second best and another Clark trainee, Wrangler Raine, was third.
Clark shares ownership on the freshman with Alberta partners Robert Jones and John Hind. The filly has put together a 3-2-0 record and a bankroll of $27,293 in her first six attempts.
Clark was back to victory lane the very next race when W Jean front-stepped to a 1:59 score in her $25,000 Premier’s Filly elimination. The Camystic-Kelsey Victoria miss laid down panels of :29.2, 1:00.2 and 1:30.1 before sprinting home in :28.4 to seal the deal over Cigarchompin Mona and Westwood Krissy.
Dr. Maurice Stewart, Maureen Stewart, Gord Rumpel and Blair Corbeil own the filly, who picked up her first lifetime win in seven tries.
The boys were up next, and All Canadian MJJZ created a buzz when rallied to a 1:57.4 victory at odds of 18-1 for trainer/driver Rod Starkewski, who co-owns the son Allamerican Native-Sliced Thin with Larry Thomas of Edmonton, AB. The colt easily defeated Leadfood Lefty and race favourite Prom Mister.
Premier's first elim - 2CP from thehorses.com on Vimeo.
It was the second win in four starts for the youngster, who now owns a 2-1-1 record and has banked in excess of $16,000.
Barona Ice pulled off a 6-1 upset in the second elimination for the tandem of driver Bill Tainsh, Jr. and trainer Douglas Stout. The son of Freedoms Pass-Vanessa Hall rallied from just off the pace to win in a career-best clocking of 1:56.3 over even-money favourite Campasser and Flak Jacket.
Barona Yearlings of Spruce Grove, AB bred and own the colt, who has assembled a 2-1-1 record in his first five assignments. He has stashed away close to $19,000 to date.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.