Three-year-old pacing filly Minettas Nightstar overcame a trailing tier Post 9 start and got her nose to the wire first in a win photo to capture this week's edition of the $9,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Northlands Park on Sunday afternoon
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With Bobby Clark in the bike for trainer Keith Clark, Minettas Nightstar settled away fifth in the early going while Weareverigo (Don Monkman Jr.) took the leading role and carved out opening fractions of :28.1 and :56.4.
As the fillies and mares raced down the backstretch, Im Sheila (Jeff Stone) pulled the pocket and Clark trainee Dewinton Destroyer (Jamie Gray) moved off the pylons from fourth and angled three-wide. Those two went head-to-head with Weareverigo past the 1:26.1 three-quarters mark with Dewinton Destroyer pushing ahead as they geared up for the stretch drive.
The Northlands Filly Pace champion held onto her lead down the stretch while Nakednakednaked (Gerry Hudon), Barona Josie (Bill Tainsh Jr.) and trailer River Lass (Kelly Hoerdt) began to fan wide off cover. Meanwhile, Minettas Nightstar weaved in between horses looking for racing room.
As they approached the wire, Minettas Nightstar pushed through to nab the narrow victory and stop the clock in 1:56.1. Nakednakednaked got up for second with Barona Josie finishing third and Dewinton Destroyer fourth -- all three within one length of the winner. River Lass finished one and three-quarter lengths behind in fifth.
Minettas Nightstar paid $5.40 to win as part of the favoured 8-5 entry. This year's Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final champion, who finished fourth just half a length behind her stablemate in the Northlands Filly Pace, now boasts 10 wins in 21 starts on her 2011 record with close to $150,000 earned. Lifetime, the consistent daughter of Brandons Cowboy and Lucky X Amplehas has hit the board in 23 of her 29 starts to earn nearly $200,000. Keith Clark shares ownership of the winner with Calgary's John Hind.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Northlands Park.