Three-year-old pacing filly Crackers Hot Shot stamped herself as the one to beat in the first Alberta Sires Stakes of the season with a 1:57.4 open length victory in her $10,000 Princess elimination on Saturday at Alberta Downs.
Driver Bill Tainsh Jr. sent the 2012 ASHA Award winner from fifth to first over the 'good' surface after the :27.4 opening panel and cruised through middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:27.4 before drawing away from the field to win by six and a half lengths. Kiss My Crouper (Ryan Grundy) overtook pocket-sitter Barona Lilac (Kelly Hoerdt) to finish second. Cenalta Fireworks (Rene Goulet) and Va Va Varoom (Rod Hennessy) rounded out the top five finishers.
Undefeated in three sophomore starts, including a division of the Wild Rose on June 2, Crackers Hot Shot paid $3.30 to win as the 3-5 favourite.
The Camcracker-Shesahotshot filly is trained and owned by Rod Starkewski of Lamont, Alta. She now boasts eight wins and one second from 10 starts with earnings totalling $62,661.
The other elimination was won by the maiden-breaking Chatter Box and driver Brandon Campbell in 2:01.1 as the rain began to intensify.
Chatter Box sat fifth for most of the mile while Freedoms Treasure (Tainsh Jr.) led the field through fractions of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:30.2. Emotions Run Wild (Hoerdt) rallied three-wide around a parked out Outlawcherishafool (Connie Kolthammer) for the lead into the stretch, but Chatter Box slipped out and surged by for the narrow score over that foe with 8-5 favourite Blue Star West (Jamie Gray) closing from the backfield to show three and three-quarter lengths behind. Freedoms Treasure and Outlawcherishafool finished fourth and fifth.
The Camcracker-English Nanny filly is trained by David Lamont for owner/breeder Donna Wyse of Airdrie, Alta. After making just one start as a freshman, she's earned today's victory and a pair of second-place finishes in four sophomore starts.
Chatter Box paid $9 to win as the 7-2 third choice.
The $50,000 estimated Alberta Princess Final will take place next Saturday, June 22 at Alberta Downs.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.