When it comes to claiming activity in Western Canada, many would argue that there is currently no bigger success story than that of Jennas Pass
.
Horseman Keith Clark plucked the five-year-old mare out of a $10,000 claiming race from Alberta Downs in Lacombe on August 22. Additional conditions made the final purchase price $15,000, but since the move to the new barn named Jennas Pass has been unbeaten in five races against Open company.
Jennas Pass has performed these remarkable feats three times at Lacombe and now twice at Fraser Downs where she has tangled with Fraser Downs queen Mystic Maiden and has beaten her both times.
One of those victories over Mystic Maiden was in an Open event last Sunday prior to last Sunday’s $35,000 Miss Cloverdale. Jennas Pass won the stakes race in impressive fashion under the guidance of driver Gord Abbott.
For the win, Jennas Pass received the first-place cheque of $17,500. Since putting in the claim she has returned the tidy sum of $35,950 to Clark and his partners. The modest Clark, however, takes no credit for magically turning her around.
“Things are tough right now and he (previous trainer Joe O’Brien) would have had her moved out of there (claiming races) after one more,” Clark figured. “She’s a really good horse and had already won a couple when I got her. I noticed the times she was achieving were faster than the open races.
“She was a good claim. She’s just kept it going for me. I was lucky.”
Jennas Pass has drawn Post 3 in Fraser Downs' five-horse Fillies and Mares Open (Race 2, 2:05 p.m.) this coming Sunday. Clark will be performing the driving duties, and he and his charge have been installed as the 9-5 morning line choice.
To view the Sunday entries for Fraser Downs, click the following link: Sunday entries - Fraser Downs.
(With files from Fraser Downs)