Preliminary series action for Alberta-sired juveniles continued Sunday (Dec. 16) at Century Downs, as Thunder Alley and Bim Bam Boom each hit the wire first in their respective assignments over the Calgary-area oval.
Thunder Alley ($3.10) got things underway first. The Mystery Chase gelding recorded an open-length, wire-to-wire victory in Race 1, which was the lone $7,000 fourth-leg division of the Alberta Snowshoe for freshmen pacing colts and geldings.
Driver Phil Giesbrecht had the attention of the Doug Stout trainee early, as the duo left out from Post 2. It was lights out from there.
Thunder Alley got to the front and maintained a one and a half-length lead through the opening quarter (:28.4) and half (:59.3).
The Tyler Redwood-driven Trump The Dragon came first-up from third in the third quarter, but Giesbrecht had him on his radar as Thunder Alley tossed up three quarters in 1:28.3.
Trump The Dragon continued to chase from second on the way home, but that was as close as he would come. Thunder Alley went on to expand on his lead late and nail the wire four and a half lengths the best. The win time was 1:57.3.
Trump The Dragon settled for second while the Rod Hennessy-driven Kootney Lager finished third/ Crash Dive and Scorcher secured the final two cheques.
Thunder Alley is owned by Jim Wilson (of Regina, SK) and Gladstone, MB residents Richard Remillard and Valerie Emerson.
Bim Bam Boom, pictured victorious at Century Downs on December 16, 2018
Bim Bam Boom ($4.00), another performer sired by Mystery Chase, got the job done in Race 2, which was the lone $7,000 fourth-leg division of the Alberta Snowflake for juvenile pacing fillies.
The bay lass started from Post 2 with driver Brandon Campbell and sat second as the Doug Chappell-driven Emily H cut the opening quarter in :29.2. Campbell had the Harold Haining trainee looking for the lead in the second quarter, and Bim Bam Boom got it before clicking off the opening half in :59. Bim Bam Boom was under pressure in the third quarter, as the Phil Giesbrecht-driven Casey N Grinegan was out and racing first-up from fourth.
Bim Bam Boom was able to put away Casey N Grinegan in the final quarter, but the Rod Hennessy-driven June Morning, who had received a second-over trip, came calling late. Bim Bam Boom surely had to earn the win, as she was able to hold off June Morning by a neck in the 2:00.1 mile.
Emily H, who also closed, was beaten by just three quarters of a length and finished third. Rapid Reaction and Casey N Grinegan collected the final cheques, respectively.
Bim Bam Boom is owned by Donald Richardson of Cochrane, AB.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Century, click the following link: Sunday Results – Century Downs.