Three $7,500 Alberta Princess eliminations for three-year-old pacing fillies were contested on Saturday afternoon over a heavy track at Alberta Downs with Barona Josie, Promise Me Pez and Im Sheila turning in winning performances
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Barona Josie delivered on her pari-mutuel promise in the first elimination and in doing so kept her 2011 record perfect.
Leaving from Post 5, favourite Barona Josie and driver Bill Tainsh Jr. took control of the field around the first turn in the opening elimination and cruised through fractions of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:28 en route to victory in 1:57.4. Minettas Nightstar (Keith Clark) finished nearly two lengths behind in second off a pocket trip and B C Fantasy (Jamie Gray) came on for third.
The Brandons Cowboy-Vanessa Hall filly, now three-for-three this year, is trained and co-owned by Douglas Stout along with breeder Barona Yearlings of Spruce Grove, Alta. She has won six of eight lifetime starts while earning over $48,000.
Promise Me Pez survived a first over trip in line to Bobby Clark for trainer Keith Clark to capture her elimination.
Just like in the first elimination, the Post 5 starter got to the front first. Clintons Playmate (Scott Knight) was the early leader, but gave way to Samnmadie (Jamie Gray) at the :28.2 opening quarter mark.
As the new leader showed the way to the half in and even one minute, Wrangler Starlight (Keith Clark) advanced first over to apply pressure, but stablemate Promise Me Pez rallied wide to get around her and take over command at three-quarters in 1:29.1. She then extended her lead in the stretch and held off favourite Ashlynn Grace (John Chappell) to win in 2:01. Pocket-sitter Clintons Playmate (Scott Knight) was third.
The daughter of As Promised-Avonlee Alba, owned by Harvey and Ann Jaeger of Okotoks and Timothy Kane of St. Albert, Alta., notched her third win in eight 2011 outings and fourth overall, pushing her lifetime earnings to more than $20,000.
Im Sheila, last season's Two-Year-Old Alberta Sired Filly of the Year, romped to a four length score in the final elimination for trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt.
The Brandons Cowboy-Barnyard Dance miss fired to command from Post 4 and led the way past panels of :29.3, 1:00 and 1:29.2 before stopping the clock in 2:00.4. Keith Clark entries and co-favourites Dewinton Destroyer (Bobby Clark) and Clintons Keepsake (Keith Clark) finished second and third respectively.
Hoerdt also shares ownership of the filly, who has won three times in nine starts this years, with Peter Morris and Roque Consultants Inc. of Calgary, and Beaumont's Blair Corbeil. The winner of six races lifetime boast over $108,000 in earnings thanks in part to a victory in the Battle Of Alberta Super Final last year.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.