Dominant distaffer Stash The Cookies was back on top in the $12,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap Pace on Friday night, Dec. 20 at Century Mile.
Driver Dave Kelly sent 2-5 favourite Stash The Cookies to the lead and set panels of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:25.3 en route to the 1:53.4 victory with the mare's rival Outlaw Sharktastic (Nathan Sobey) hot on his helmet but only able to cut into the winner's margin just before the wire. The front-loving favourite prevailed by half a length with Outlaw Sharktastic settling for second for the fourth time in a row. Bares All (Logan Gillis) and Goodbye Ceia Later (Mike Hennessy), an upset winner in the last Mares Preferred two weeks ago, rounded out the shortened field.
John Chappell trains Stash The Cookies, who has won 11 of her 17 starts while facing Alberta's top distaffers during her entire eight-year-old campaign, for owner Derek Gilbert of Brandon, Man. A career winner of 41 races, the Sunfire Blue Chip-Saucy B mare has earned $98,250 of her $411,609 bankroll this year.
Stash The Cookies paid $2.90 to win and $2.70 to place. There was no show wagering.
The Chappell stable went two-for-two on the eight-race card with another distaffer, four-year-old Westcoast Captive, winning the finale for $5,000 claimers in 1:57.4 with Logan Gillis driving.
In other action, the streaking three-year-old filly Baby Limbo lowered her lifetime mark to 1:56.1 when she won her sixth straight race. The daughter of Captain Crunch is trained by Mathew Howlett and owned by his father Don. Jamie Gray was the fourth different driver to guide her home a winner during her current streak as she advanced to an $8,700 fillies and mares conditioned handicap and paid $13.60 to win at 5-1 odds.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Century Mile.
(Standardbred Canada)