Bim Bam Boom and Thunder Alley, each sent the odds-on choice, emerged victorious on the Wednesday, Dec. 26 card at Century Downs with Bim Bam Boom taking the $18,000 Alberta Snowflake Final and Thunder Alley the $18,000 Alberta Snowshoe.
Bim Bam Boom sat off the speed early as Rapid Reaction and June Morning fought on the front rounding the first turn. Positioned four lengths off the leaders by a :28.4 quarter, Bim Bam Boom continued to sit at the rail as June Morning cleared control and led the field to the half in :59.3.
Driver Brandon Campbell angled the two-year-old Mystery Chase filly first over approaching three-quarters and soon inched to the lead past the 1:30.1 station. Bim Bam Boom maintained a narrow lead through the stretch as June Morning remained in contention at the rail and Casey N Grinegan, from third-over, began to sweep past rivals nearing the wire. Bim Bam Boom hit the finish in 2:02.1 a nose better than Casey N Grinegan while June Morning settled for third.
Owned by Donald Richardson, Bim Bam Boom won her third race in 11 starts, earning $15,257. Harold Haining conditions the $3.70 winner.
Taking command early, Thunder Alley strolled to a 1:58 victory in the colt split of sires stakes competition. The Douglas Stout-trained frosh Mystery Chase gelding circled past early-leader HF Thegreatpumpkin to the lead following a :27 opening quarter. Slowing the tempo to the half in :58.3, Thunder Alley experienced minor first-over pressure from Trump The Dragon through a 1:28.2 third quarter before the challenger faltered around the final turn.
Thunder Alley owned two lengths on pocket-sitter HF Thegreatpumpkin into the stretch. HF Thegreatpumpkin cut into the leader's margin approaching the wire but still finished three-quarters of a length shy on the line. Kootenay Lager took third, nine lengths off the winner.
Winning his fourth race from 17 starts, Thunder Alley has now earned $24,533. Phil Giesbrecht drove the $3.30 winner for owners Jim Wilson, Richard Remillard and Valerie Emerson.
On the undercard, driver Mike Hennessy captured five races, teaming up with Wedding Dance ($4.70, 1:58.3), Sooters Blues ($5.10, 1:58.4), Cowboy Caper ($12.00, 1:58.1), Duannes Horizaon ($13.90, 1:59.1) and Paradise Hill ($5.90, 1:56).
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Century Downs.