A set of $10,000 eliminations for this year’s Western Canada Pacing Derby took place Saturday evening at Northlands Park, with the top four finishers from each of those affairs earning a berth into next weekend’s rich final.
The first elimination went to race favourite Appellate and trainer/driver Keith Clark in 1:55.4.
The three-year-old son of Western Terror-Dropitlikeitshot slipped into an early three-hole while Credit Risk charged to the top and carved out first-half panels of :28.3 and :58.1. Clark had his charge on the move in the second quarter, and they were within a length of the leader at the mid-way point of the contest.
Appellate kicked it into high gear in the third quarter and that allowed him to brush to the front and wheel the field past the three-quarter pole in 1:26. A :29.4 closing quarter was just enough for the colt to win by half a length over Blue Star Maverick in 1:55.4. Duke It Out took home third prize, and fourth money was earned by Tolly Ho.
Sent off at odds of 8-5, Appellate improved his 2016 record to 8-7-2 from 31 starts for Clark and co-owner Robert Jones of Stony Plain, AB. The pacer, who was unraced as a rookie, has banked $46,620 to date.
Chalk Player found himself in the role of the spoiler in the second elimination thanks to his 14-1 upset for driver Brandon Campbell.
The son of Camluck-Odds On Lassomyhrt got away seventh while Its Eds Idea blazed a path to the front-end and carved out first-half fractions of :27.2 and :58. Wrangler Cash came first-over on the leader on the way to the half, and those two battled tooth and nail to the three-quarter marker in 1:25.1.
Wrangler Cash muscled his way to the lead in the late stages of the mile, but he failed to hold onto it when Chalk Player challenged him in deep stretch. The winner rallied from seventh at the three-quarter pole and got up to win by a nose over race favourite Wrangler Cash in 1:55. Blue Star Jet rounded out the Trifecta ticket while Keep Coming took home fourth prize.
Sanford Campbell trains the gelding for owner Raymond Henry of Calgary, AB. It was just his second victory of the season from 21 trips to the track. He’s banked close to $30,000 this year and more than $52,000 to date.
Northlands Park will host the $70,000 finals of the Western Canada Pacing Derby and the Northlands Filly Pace next Saturday evening. Post time is set for 6:30 p.m.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Northlands Park.