Alberta’s reigning Horse of the Year, Outlawguns N Roses, caught the province’s 2024 Aged Mare of the Year, Stash The Cookies, on the wire to capture the $16,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred at Century Downs on Wednesday, June 11.
Both classy mares fired off the gate, but the favoured Stash The Cookies pushed ahead from post eight and took command heading into the first turn. She put up a :27.3 first panel and cruised to the half in :58.1 for Brandon Campbell. Outlawguns N Roses held her two-hole spot as longshot Daisy Corvette (Nathan Sobey) advanced first-up down the backstretch with Beep Bop A Lula (Dave Kelly) making a three-wide move at three-quarters in 1:26.2.
Mike Hennessy summoned Outlawguns N Roses from the pocket at the top of the lane and she bore down on Stash The Cookies. The pacesetter proved game, clinging to her lead into the final strides, but Outlawguns N Roses nabbed her at the line to prevail in 1:55.1. Stash The Cookies was a neck short. Goodbye Ceia Later (Kelly Hoerdt) flew late to get up for show. The win price was $7.70.
Outlawguns N Roses improved her career record to 17-for-29 with the victory. She dominated the Alberta stakes circuit last year at three, winning six major events, including the Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final. After beginning her four-year-old campaign in a conditioned contest, she quickly joined the Preferred ranks and has won twice in six tries at the level. She has earned $406,440 lifetime for owners Rod Starkewski and Clauzette Byckal. Starkewski trains the daughter of Captive Audience-Gunslingin Gal.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)