Getting away at the back of the pack from an outside starting spot, Trust The Artist advanced past one Open pacer after another en route to his fifth straight victory at Northlands Park on a chilly Saturday afternoon
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Three-year-old Flak Jacket (Jamie Gray) fired off a speedy :27.4 opener in the $11,500 Open Pace with the Trust The Artist's stablemate Killean Cut Kid (Brandon Campbell) parked out and pressing as they moved in front of the grandstand for the first time. Shaking off his first challenger around the turn, Flak Jacket hit the half in :55.4.
Down the backstretch, Almost No More Bs (John Chappell) made his move from fifth charging three-deep and swept to command hitting three-quarters in 1:26 with Trust The Artist and driver Kelly Hoerdt following his cover.
As the field entered the final turn, Flak Jacket jumped it off from the three-hole scattering some of the trailing horses and leaving Almost No More Bs and Trust The Artist to go at it down the stretch. Unleashing a :29.1 final frame, Trust The Artist collared the leader and sped off to a five and three-quarter length victory in 1:56 over a frozen track. Almost No More Bs was the runner-up with longshot Bettor Tuwin (Bill Tainsh Jr.) back in third.
Trust The Artist is now a perfect four-for-four during the fall meet at Northlands Park and extended his win streak, which began back in April, to five. He has won six times in 11 starts this year earning $36,892. Hoerdt shares ownership of the Real Artist-Abreachoftrust six-year-old with Blair Corbeil and Mike McAllister of Beaumont, Alta. The 34-time career winner has banked $446,859 to date.
Trust The Artist paid $3.30 to win as part of the favoured entry.
To view Saturday's results, click here.