Brandy Is Dandy and River Lass went wire-to-wire to win their respective $25,000 Wild Rose divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies, both prevailing over the favoured Keith Clark entries on Friday night at Northlands Park
.
Trainer-driver Gerry Hudon sent Brandy Is Dandy to the top from Post 2 and clicked off stations of :28, :58.2 and 1:28.3 before holding off a pair of popular Keith Clark pupils for the 1:59 triumph. After an early miscue placed Queen Of Swing (Clark) over 13-lengths in arrears, she recovered and advanced around the stalled My West (Kelly Hoerdt) to challenge the pacesetter in the stretch. Queen Of Swing, however, came up a neck short while the pocket-sitting W Jean (Don Monkman, Jr.) finished a half length back in third.
Brandy Is Dandy returned $31.10 to win as the 14-1 longest shot on the board. The daughter of Brandons Cowboy-Napa Hanover is now two-for-six this season with over $16,000 banked. Hudon shares ownership of bay with Monica Hudon of Edmonton, Alta. and Bill Boden of Vancouver, B.C.
On race later, River Lass went the distance to take her division in a career-best 1:56.2 over another favoured Clark entry. The As Promised-Brass Buttons miss left from Post 6 and carved out fractions of :29, :58.1 and 1:27.2 before facing pressure from the pocket-sitting Rossridge Fortune (Clark). River Lass fought back with a :29-second final quarter, securing the win by two and three-quarter lengths. Rossridge Fortune stayed for second while her stablemate Wrangler Raine (Bill Tainsh, Jr.) came in third.
River Lass returned $4.70 to win as part of the 6-5 second choice entry. She has won half of her six starts this year, good for nearly $21,000 in purse earnings.
Earlier on the card, a minor accident occurred shortly after the start of Race 3 when Hilltop Harmony (Brandon Campbell) appeared to hook wheels with Gts Free Flight (Bill Tainsh, Jr.) to his inside. The pair got tangled up causing confusion to the rest of the field. Driver Brandon Campbell was unseated in the incident but appeared to land on his feet. The rest of the field managed to avoid a pile up and continued to pursue the leader and eventual winner Spring Baby (Gary Clark). Trot Insider has learned that no injuries were sustained in the incident.
Trainer Lance Ward enjoyed a standout night winning three races on the eventful 10-race card. Mr Mozzart (2:00.4) and J.F. Gagne won the opener by seven lengths for Ward before he guided Cam Houston (1:57.1) to victory in the fourth race by nearly five lengths. Keith Clark won the next race with Westwood Cowgirl (1:59.2) to complete the Ward triple.
To view Friday's results, click here.