Metaki was a popular repeat winner in the top distaff pace at Century Downs on Friday night, matching her 1:54.1 mile from a week ago for leading trainer/driver Brandon Campbell.
Blue Star Mystic (David Kelly) led the field of nine through fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:24.3 with a first-up Stash The Cookies (Logan Gillis) challenging down the backstretch, but Campbell maneuvered Metaki out into the three-path from fourth and the 2-1 favourite took over down the stretch for her second straight victory. Century Mach (Phil Giesbrecht) came flying late to edge out Blue Star Mystic in a photo for place less than a length behind the winner.
Metaki was the bettors' choice racing from the inside post with a $37,500 claiming tag in the $12,000 feature with Preferred mares handicapped outside. She paid $6.20 to win.
The four-year-old Vertical Horizon mare improved her season's record to 8-4-2 from 15 starts while lifting her annual income to $47,184 for local owner Jodi Loftus. Now a 15-time career winner, Metaki boasts a six-figure bankroll.
She landed Campbell in the winner's circle for the fourth time during the card.
On Friday evening, injured horseman Kelly Hoerdt, who was on hand to watch two of his trainees win back-to-back races, served as guest commentator on the Century Downs broadcast and shared that he hopes to be back in the driver's seat next weekend. Hoerdt had sustained a shoulder injury in a mid-April accident at Fraser Downs.
"I was ready to go two weeks ago, but I'm just waiting for my doctor to sign off on me to give me the green light," said Hoerdt. "So, one more ultrasound and I should be on my way again. I'm ready to go."
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Century Downs.