Alberta's Champion Aged Horse of the Year candidate All Canadian Mjjz kept his 2012 record perfect as he edged out the hard-closing Sixdaysontheroad for the victory in the featured $8,500 Open Pace at Northlands Park on Saturday afternoon
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Bachelor Pad (Bobby Clark), who finished a close second to All Canadian Mjjz in the Open last week, fired off the gate from Post 4 and crossed down in front of the reigning class champion to establish the early lead. Bachelor Pad led the single-file field, which was scratched down to five starters, to the opening quarter in :28.1 and the half in :58.3 before coming under attack.
Driver Jeff Stone pulled All Canadian Mjjz from the pocket just before the midway point and went head-to-head with the leader. The 8-5 favourite began to edge out in front down the backstretch and eventually cleared to command at the three-quarters mark in 1:25.2.
All Canadian Mjjz led the way into the stretch while his foes began to fan wide. Out widest of them all was the leader's biggest threat, Sixdaysontheroad (Bill Tainsh Jr.), who was full of late pace and nearly nabbed the win in the final strides. However, All Canadian Mjjz dug in and managed to hang on for the 1:54.3 triumph. Sixdaysontheroad missed by a neck while Hilldrop Shady (Brent Grundy) came in third.
All Canadian Mjjz paid $4.30 to win. The five-year-old Allamerican Native-Sliced Thin gelding, who took a tumble during his last start of 2011 after winning three in a row, is now two-for-two this year for trainer Rod Starkewski, who shares ownership with Larry Thomas of Edmonton.
All Canadian Mjjz, who won seven of his 33 races last season while banking over $50,000, has been nominated for an ASHA Award in the Champion Aged Horse category against Neal Diamonique and Trust The Artist. The winner will be announced this evening at the awards banquet in Edmonton.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northlands Park.