Big Shir made her first start in the fillies and mares open ranks at Century Downs a memorable one, capturing the Saturday (April 27) feature under a spring snow shower.
With driver Mike Hennessy at the controls, 3-5 choice Big Shir was settled away mid-pack in third as Thats It (Rod Hennessy) fronted the field through the first station in :29.1. Big Shir was right-lined from third as the group of six straightened in front of the granstand for the first time, and she landed on the lead by the three-eighths mark. An easy middle half through panels of :58.2 and 1:28.3 gave Big Shir somewhat of a breather as the field bunched up tightly around the final turn. Heading for home, Big Shir pulled away from her five rivals to trip the timer in 1:57.3 for the win, holding off pylon-skimming and then pocket-popping Paperback Thriller (Doug Chappell) and hard-closing American Passion (Brandon Campbell).
Owned by Derek Gilbert of Brandon, Man., Chris Lambie and trainer Chris Lancaster of Airdrie, Alta., Big Shir now sports a 3-1-0 summary from nine seasonal starts. The win, her 23rd lifetime, boosts her career bankroll to $175,338.
To view the results from the Saturday card of harness racign at Century Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.