Trained and driven by O'Brien Award of Horsemanship candidate Kelly Hoerdt, Trust The Artist put an end to rival Timberline Court's current win streak as he tracked him down in the stretch to capture this week's $9,700 Open Handicap Pace at Northlands Park on Saturday evening.
Riding a four-race win streak in the Open class, Timberline Court (Gerry Hudon) fired across the track from the outside post five in the field featuring one scratch and set up shop on the front end.
The heavy 1-2 favourite carved out fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:25.1 while Bettor Tuwin (Philip Giesbrecht) advanced from the back of the pack into the gapping two-hole with Trust The Artist leap-frogging around Smart Shark (Connie Kolthammer) into third.
As the pacers entered the homestretch, Hoerdt tipped his charge off the pylons and wore down the leader to score in 1:55.1 by one and three-quarter lengths. Timberline Court settled for second while Neal Diamonique (Travis Cullen) came on for third.
Trust The Artist paid $15 to win for the 49th time in his career.
This year's Albertan Stakes champion notched his seventh win of the season in 19 starts and pushed his earnings to $44,930 for 2012 and $558,464 lifetime. The eight-year-old son of Real Artist is owned by Hoerdt and fellow Beaumont, Alberta residents Blair Corbeil and Mike McAllister.
While Timberline Court's streak ended, 10-year-old gelding Stiletto Hall ($4.30) kept his rolling with a 1:57.3 down the road score in his second race claiming assignment. Owner Don Monkman Jr. guided the Shelly Arsenault trainee to his sixth win in a row and 45th lifetime.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northlands Park.