Stash The Cookies circled her rivals after the opening quarter-mile and led the rest of the way en route to her third straight victory in the $12,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap Pace at Century Downs on Friday, June 21.
Driven by Brandon Campbell, outside assignee Stash The Cookies trailed the reduced field of five distaffers by half a dozen lengths through a :28.1 opening quarter before sweeping to command as they raced in front of the grandstand the first time and into the turn. Stash The Cookies cleared by the :57.3 half-mile mark and raced on to three-quarters in 1:25.1. Early leader Grey Sea (Tyler Redwood) chased from the pocket turning for home, but Stash The Cookies dug in to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.3. Grey Sea edged out If Only Id Known (Phil Giesbrecht) for second with the late-closing In High Cotton (Kelly Hoerdt) just missing the ticket and G Ts Skyla (Nathan Sobey) fifth in the compact field.
John Chappell trains the Sunfire Blue Chip-Saucy B mare, who is now three-for-four to start her eight-year-old campaign, for owner Derek Gilbert of Brandon, Man. A winner of 33 races lifetime, Stash The Cookies has stashed away $341,484 in purse earnings.
Sent postward as the 3-4 favourite, Stash The Cookies paid $3.50 to win.
In addition to driving the Friday feature winner in race four, Campbell enjoyed a training triple during the back half of the 11-race card. His stable's five-year-old mare Skys Little Spunk ($4.70, Campbell) made it four wins in a row with a 1:55.2 romp and then four-year-old gelding Yenoh Who ($2.90, Mike Hennessy) scored in 1:56.3 for his third straight victory. Three-year-old filly Long Gone Love ($5.90, Campbell) capped off the day's action with a 1:59.4 score by neck for the Century Horse Racing Club.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)