River Lass kicked into high gear as the field of Open mares approached the final turn and surged to victory for the first time this season in the $10,000 co-featured event at Northlands Park
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Bridgette Hanover (Gerry Hudon) worked hard to take control of the five-horse field off the gate and laid down an opening :28-second first quarter. She then backed down the pace, reaching the next marker in :58.3, which prompted Second Fancy (Jeff Stone) to make her move.
As Second Fancy pulled the pocket and moved up to take over command at the 1:27.4 third quarter mark, River Lass moved underway from fourth. The 3-5 favourite found her best stride late in the mile and in a blink of an eye, she was on top. River Lass opened up three and a half lengths in the stretch en route to a 1:58 victory over a heavy track. Lady And Thetrench (Bill Tainsh Jr.) rallied from last to grab second-place over Second Fancy.
River Lass paid $3.50 to win. Last year’s Battle Of Alberta Super Final winner earned her first victory of the season after finishing third in her first outing, the Open Pace, one week ago. She has now won 15 times over the course of her career and earned $238,751.
Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt also co-owns the four-year-old daughter of As Promised-Brass Buttons with Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta. The partners also share ownership of Oblivious Boy, who doubled up in the Spartacus Claiming Series this afternoon at Fraser Downs in B.C.
Hilldrop Shady took the top pacing event for males after rallying three-deep at the third quarter station and sprinting home in :29.1. Driven by Brent Grundy for trainer Ken Read and owner Wally McKay of Millet, Alta., the five-year-old son of Shady Character-Grecian Formula stopped the clock in 1:57.2, winning by one and a half lengths over last week’s Open champion, All Canadian Mjjz (Jeff Stone). Neil Diamonique (Gerry Hudon) was third.
Hilldrop Shady paid $17.80 for the upset. He is now two-for-two in 2011 and has won 15 times in his career. His earnings now stand at $61,219.
The George Young Memorial Claiming Series for $4,000 claiming pacers kicked off on Saturday with 11-year-old Artplace gelding Rango, in rein to trainer Jamie Gray, front-stepping his way to a 1:58.3 victory in the first division and six-year-old Eicarls Infinity son Steveofdestruction getting up in the nick of time to score a 30-1 upset in 2:00.4 for driver Jeff Stone and trainer Lee Ibey.
To view Saturday's results, click here.