The undercard of the 2024 Western Regional Driving Championship at Century Downs on Saturday, May 11 featured a pair of $12,500 Preferred events for the circuit's top pacers.
And the winning formula for those Preferred dashes was head to the top and don't look back.
In High Cotton set that tone in the opener, the $12,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace. Leaving from post four, In High Cotton and driver Dave Hudon couldn't get a spot on the rail early as Outlaw Sharktastic (Nathan Sobey) guarded that early position. In High Cotton was subsequently forced to drive on and did clear after a :27.2 opening quarter.
The tempo didn't cool all that much, with a :55.1 half followed by a 1:23.4 third station. In High Cotton maintained her advantage, but faced a late rally from If Only Id Known (Phil Giesbrecht) in the lane. The 2-5 choice, In High Cotton delivered for her connections and supporters with a gutsy 1:53.3 victory. If Only Id Known was next best, a half length back, while Outlaw Sharktastic stayed for third.
Six-year-old In High Cotton (Somebeachsomewhere-Olivette Hanover) is owned by trainer Kelly Hoerdt along with Blair & Erna Corbeil. That's career win no. 25 for In High Cotton, with earnings now exceeding $237,000. As the 2-5 choice, In High Cotton paid $2.80 to win.
Samba Beat ($4.10) found the winner's circle for the first time this year after a wire-to-wire win in the $12,500 Preferred Pace. Phil Giesbrecht asked the six-year-old to repel all his rivals, speeding through splits of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:24.1 before sprinting home in :28 for the 1:52.1 tally. Bonus Round (Dave Kelly) was two lengths back of the winner, with Icy Blue Scooter in third.
Gerry Hudon trains Samba Beat, and he co-owns the son of Santanna Blue Chip - Shes Machs Delight with Monica Hudon of Sturgeon County and Bill Andrew of Calgary, Alta. That's the 19th career win for Samba Beat, just three-fifths of a second off his lifetime best, lifting his earnings to just shy of $210,000.
This win would eventually set the tone for the rest of the card as Giesbrecht added three more wins later in the afternoon to take home the 2024 Western Regional Driving Championship, punching his ticket for a chance to represent Canada in the 2025 World Driving Championship in New Zealand. Giesbrecht and second-place finisher Mike Hennessy advance to the 2024 National Driving Championship this coming July at Hippodrome 3R.
If Giesbrecht and Hennessy would have garnered first and second star of the card honours, trainer Travis Ellis could have a case as the third star of the day by virtue of his training triple. Ellis started the day with a win the second race courtesy Sassy Libby and driver Doug Chappell (1:55.1; $3.80), notched another with Iknowyouknow (1:58.1; $6.80) and Mike Hennessy in the fourth, and ended with a win in the finale courtesy Keystone Tenacious (1:53.1; $4.70) and Giesbrecht.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)