Nate Sobey trainee Divine Art ran up the score at Century Mile on Saturday night (Dec. 3), notching a 12th consecutive victory when taking the $112,910 Century Casinos Pace in 1:54.2.
The three-year-old Outrageous Art filly launched from post four to the lead and cleared after a :27.2 first quarter. She then uncorked a :55.4 half and from there had her competition bottomed. Past three-quarters in 1:25.1, Divine Art wrapped the job by 1-3/4 lengths over pocket-sitter Saphire Blue. Shoot The Whiskey closed for third and The Ideal Huntress settled for fourth.
Owned by Robert Jones, Diane Bertrand and John Hind, Divine Art won her 16th race from 22 starts and has now earned $312,082. She paid $2.30 to win. Her win was the third in a training hat trick for Nate Sobey, who also scored with Crazy I M (1:57.2 winning mile; $6.40 to win) and Light My Shadow (1:56.1, $6.60).
Ernesto Delacruz laid similar siege to here peers in the $93,310 Western Canada Pacing Derby to land a 1:52.4 blowout.
Trainer-driver J. F. Gagne grabbed the lead with the three-year-old Vertical Horizon gelding to a :27.2 first quarter and bore first-over pressure from Joe Dimagio through a :54.2 half. Joe Dimagio soon folded from the torrid tempo and Ernesto Delacruz continued to roll towards three-quarters in 1:23.1. He then scooted away off the turn and opened on pocket-sitter Joe Rich to win by 4-3/4 lengths with Matts A Mystician closing for third and Vegas Gambler taking fourth.
A homebred for J. F. Gagne and Peter Van Seggelen, Ernesto Delacruz won his 11th race from 24 starts and has now banked $222,488. He paid $2.70 to win.
Shark Week scored earlier on the card in the $13,500 Preferred Pace. Driver Mike Hennessy sent the four-year-old Vertical Horizon stallion to the lead and never let go to post a 1:53.2 win by a length. Rod Hennessy trains and co-owns the $2.20 winner with Lorne Duffield.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Mile.