Balinska Hanover returned to her winning ways after recovering from sickness and dominated the elimination round for the Bev Sears Stakes at Century Downs on Saturday afternoon (May 7).
Balinska Hanover powered out to the lead from post four in the first of two $6,000 eliminations for three and four-year-old pacing mares and she never looked back. The 1-5 favourite cruised through panels of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:25.3 en route to a career-best victory in 1:55.3. Monstrous tried to reel in the race leader during the final quarter as she closed from mid-pack, but was still three and three-quarter lengths away at the wire. You Name It finished third, with pocket-sitter Credit The Shark and Apple Blossom Time earning the final paycheques.
Travis Cullen drove the four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare for brother-in-law Ed Hensley, who is currently recovering from broken ribs that he sustained in a a racing accident two weeks ago. The Ashleigh Hensley trainee was purchased at the Ohio sale last December for $19,000 with this stakes event on her radar. She has now won six of her seven starts since, with her only loss -- a sixth-place finish last week in a conditioned event -- attributed to a throat infection.
The Cullen-Hensley combination went on to sweep the eliminations with P L Impressive taking the second division.
The four-year-old daughter of Sportswriter fought to clear Mozelle Hanover by the quarter in :27.3 and proceeded to carve out middle splits of :58.2 and 1:26.2 on the way to the one-length victory in 1:56.2. Cenalta Artistry maneuvered out in the lane and finished second, just ahead of Mozelle Hanover. Yellow Mustang went first over with Hanalei Bay following her cover and they finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Miss Hoozzitz staged a big move on the final turn rallying wide from last into second-place, but broke stride and took herself out of contention. A pair of driver objections involving the third through fifth-place finishers during the commotion were both disallowed by the judges.
The win for P L Impressive, the 2-1 favourite, was her second in 16 starts this year.
The $30,000 final of the Bev Sears, which is for fillies and mares that are non-winners of $35,000 lifetime as of December 31, 2015, is scheduled for next Saturday, May 14.
Prior to the eliminations in the third race, a minor accident occurred involving One Tuff Cowboy, who jumped off stride leaving the gate and dumped his driver Jamie Gray. One Tuff Cowboy, who caused interference to Avonlee Knight, just to his outside, and Cenalta Eclipse, ran loose before being corralled by the track's outrider. Gray did return to action in the following race.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.