After a near miss when finishing second in last week’s top class for distaffers at Century Downs, Stash The Cookies bounced back to take home all the marbles in Saturday’s main event for mares at the Alberta oval.
Stash The Cookies got away sixth for driver Phil Giesbrecht while stablemate If Only Id Known shot to the top and carved out fractions of :27.2 and :56.4. Stash The Cookies made a bid for the lead and cleared to the top in the third quarter, and after scooting by the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1 she used a :29.2 closing frame to win by three-lengths over If Only Id Known in 1:53.3. Bearcat Josi was third.
Trainer Chris Lancaster co-owns the six-year-old daughter of Sunfire Blue Chip-Saucy B with Derek Gilbert of Brandon, MB. The victory was her second of the year and the 12th of her career. She’s banked over $140,000 to date.
The top class for male pacers went to race favourite Codename Cigar Box, who was a winner in going away fashion for driver Brandon Campbell. The four-year-old son of Custard The Dragon-Art Amour got away while Outlaw Gunsablazin powered to the top and sliced out first-half fractions of :27 and :56.2. Campbell had his charge second over on the way to the half, but he’d brushed to the top before racing past the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4. A :28.3 closing quarter sealed the deal for the Kelly Hoerdt trainee who drew clear to win by six lengths over Crackle N Burn in 1:53.2. Canadian Pharoh was third.
Sent off as the 4-5 choice, Codename Cigar Box improved his 2022 record to 1-1-1 from seven starts for Hoerdt and partners Fred Gilbert and Blair Corbeil. The nine-time winner is quickly closing in on earnings of $180,000.
It was a memorable day for driver Tyson Jacoby who celebrated the first victory of his career. The reinsman clicked with the Tyler Redwood-trained Had A Hard Handle in Race 10. The gelding got away last, but blasted to the lead on the way to the three-quarter pole and then stepped home in :30.2 to win by a length in 1:58.1.
Jacoby, of Olds, AB, now owns a 1-1-1 record from his first 15 driving assignments.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Century Downs.