Even-money favourite Outlawgrabbingears grabbed command heading to the half mile and put away his competition to post a four-and-a-quarter length victory in the quickest of the three $7,500 ABSS Alberta Plainsman splits on Sunday, May 19 at Century Downs.
Trainer-driver Paul Davies sat the Smart Shark gelding behind pacesetter Go Nine O past a :27.3 opening quarter before circling to the front and leading the field past a :57.4 half. Crackle N Burn, sitting fifth, edged off the pylons approaching the second turn and ranged towards the leader approaching a 1:25.3 third quarter, but Outlawgrabbingears gained separation into the final turn and spun into the stretch clear of Crackle N Burn in second to stop the clock in 1:54. Outlaw Aceofspades, sitting third at the pylons for the mile, took show.
Owned by Davies along with Nicole Davies and Deborah Pinel, Outlawgrabbingears won his 10th race from 13 starts, earning $149,875. He paid $4.00 to win.
Favourite Jewels Dragon won the second division with a first-over grind into the final turn in a 1:57.3 mile.
Away fourth past a :28.3 first quarter, pylon-starter Jewels Dragon stalked a slow pace set by Rockin N Talkin and parked-out Hf Jesse James. The outside threat lost ground passing a :59.2 half and dropped out of contention after driver Brandon Campbell tipped the 6-5 choice first over approaching a 1:27.4 third quarter. Rockin N Talkin clung to command around the final turn but eventually gave way in the stretch as Jewels Dragon slid to a length victory over pocket-sitter Suspicions Runwild with Carro P Thunder taking third.
Winning his sixth race from seven starts this season and his eighth from 15 overall, Jewels Dragon has now earned $47,838 for owners Paul Sanders and Christine Cutting. Justin Currie conditions the $4.40 winner.
Trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt wired the final division with Kneedeep N Custard in 1:55.2. Leaving from post five, the Custard The Dragon gelding posted splits of :28.3 and :58.4 under no pressure. Favourite Outlaw Gunsablazin, caught behind horses gapped at the pylons, tipped first over past the half and recouped eight lengths to apply pressure on the pacesetter passing a 1:26.4 third quarter. Kneedeep N Custard kept rolling around the final turn and turned for the wire under minimal pressure as Major Winker chased from second and Outlaw Gunsablazin faltered to third.
Hoerdt co-owns the $5.00 winner with partners Blair Corbeil and Fred Gilbert. Kneedeep N Custard won his sixth from seventh starts, accruing $22,200 in earnings.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Downs.