Trainer Keith Clark had power in numbers in Sunday afternoon’s $8,700 Fillies & Mares Open at Alberta Downs, but it was Devon Cream who drew away to an
impressive victory in the five-mare affair.
Trainer/driver Jamie Gray dropped into the three-hole in the early going with Devon Cream while Sealedwithapromise, one of two in the field sent out by trainer Clark, rolled the field through early fractions of :29.1 and :57.4. She still enjoyed a three-length lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1, but Devon Cream was starting to chip away at the lead while sitting second on the outside.
Devon Cream easily hauled down the leader well before the top of the stretch, and she used a :29.1 closing panel to win by 4-1/2 lengths over the other Clark-trained lass, Lady And Thetrench, in 1:57.4. Bridgette Hanover tagged along to finish a distant third.
The victory improved Devon Cream’s 2011 record to 5-1-0 in seven starts, and the 1:57 clocking was a seasonal best performance for the eight-time winner. She has stashed away in excess of $81,000 to date for the partnership of Fred Gilbert, Richard Osterbeck and Sean Osterbeck of Brandon, MB.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Alberta Downs.