Trainer-driver Jamie Gray dominated the opening card of Alberta Downs’ 80-day harness racing season on Saturday winning half of the afternoon’s races including the featured $7,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace
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Gray won the opening race aboard three-year-old filly Lady On A Mission in 2:03 over the frozen track for trainer Douglas Shaw before scoring a natural hat trick later on with his own pupils five-year-old mare Caressable Hanover in 2:02.2, five-year-old gelding Modern Look in 2:00.4, and four-year-old mare Devon Cream in 1:59.3.
In the featured Mares Open, Gray and Devon Cream got away fifth from Post 5 while inside starter Gts Lizzy (Bill Tainsh Jr.) established the early lead. As Gts Lizzy raced past early fractions of :29.2 and 1:01.1, Devon Cream made her move and blasted to command. She opened three lengths on the field by the third quarter station of 1:30.2 and nearly doubled that margin in the stretch before crossing the wire. Sealedwithapromise (Brent Grundy) finished second and Bridgette Hanover (John Chappell) was third.
Devon Cream is now four-for-five on the year with over $16,000 earned for Gray and owners Fred Gilbert and Richard and Sean Osterbeck of Brandon, MB. The daughter of Armbo Trench-Crème De Mint now boasts seven career wins on her record with close to $74,000 in earnings.
Gray, the early leader in the track’s standings after the eight-race program, ended the 2010 season among the top five drivers and trainers at the Lacombe racetrack.
Alberta Downs will offer live racing on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. until September 25.
For results from Saturday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.