Three-year-old pacers contested the eliminations for the Moore’s Mile Breeders’ Stake and Shirley McClellan Breeders’ Stake on Saturday, June 6 to determine the fields for next weekend’s $90,000 finals.
Y V Weller scored his second career victory in 15 starts, upsetting at 25-1 in the first $12,500 Moore’s Mile elimination for colts and geldings. John Abbott secured the pocket for the colt behind Ruler Of Dragons (Phil Giesbrecht), who provided the fractions of :28, :58 and 1:26.4 and turned into the lane under pressure from Libra Mundi (Brandon Campbell). Libra Mundi and Ruler Of Dragons hooked wheels briefly in the stretch, allowing Y V Weller to sprint up the pylons and win by a length in 1:56.1. Ruler Of Dragons took second over Libra Mundi, with Dayo Dayo (Drew Campbell) fourth.
Rod Starkewski trains Y V Weller and shares ownership with Christopher Lambie of Rockyview County, Alta. The son of Mystery Chase-Dime Hanover was 0-for-10 as a rookie but finished third in his Alberta Sires Stakes (ABSS) Super Final consolation and broke his maiden in his second start at three. He is two-for-five this season and has now earned $31,473. His backers received $52.60 for a base wager.
Boleto A Mexico secured his first win of the year in a career-best 1:54.4 in the second Moore’s Mile elimination. He defeated Vladdy G (Logan Gillis) by a head, with Vegas Gangster (Mike Hennessy) third and Outlaw Country On (Drew Campbell) fourth. Jamie Gray trains and drives Boleto A Mexico, a son of Captive Audience-Legs Like Tina. The colt, owned by Gray of Sturgeon County, Alta., Max Gibb of Millarville, Alta., 5 Amigos of Sturgeon County and Aaron Malkin of Calgary, Alta., is now three-for-eight lifetime with $20,856 in earnings. He paid $6 to win.
Blue Star Strike and Blue Star Aspire both won by open lengths in the $12,500 eliminations the Shirley McClellan for fillies. Blue Star Strike laid down the law in the first group, pushing out to command for Drew Campbell, producing :29.3, :59.3 and 1:27.4 fractions, and coasting home a 2-1/4-length winner in 1:55.4. B A Dragon (Phil Giesbrecht) chased her throughout and finished second, followed by Hf Runnin On Mt (Brandon Campbell) and Mystery Shooter (Nathan Sobey).
Blue Star Strike, trained by Mathew Howlett, won her second straight start after a victory against older foes on May 22. She is two-for-three this year and four-for-12 lifetime with $58,572 in earnings for owner Don Howlett of West St. Paul, Man. She returned $5.10.
Blue Star Aspire was similarly dominant in the second elimination. With trainer Rod Therres at the lines, she initially ceded the front to Y V Four Roses (John Abbott) before sweeping to command past the :28.3 quarter. The Captain Deo-Telegraph Hanover filly strung her foes out with :58 and 1:26.2 middle fractions, and she finished with a 3-1/2-length margin in 1:55.2. Lets Go Gals (Kelly Hoerdt) was second. Y V Four Roses and Kissin Backwards (Nathan Sobey) completed the top four.
The win was the third of Blue Star Aspire’s career in 12 tries, and her first since the ASHA Filly Pace final last season. She is one-for-four this term for Therres of Langley, B.C., who co-owns the filly with KFC Farms Ltd. of Abbotsford, B.C. The win price was $5.10.
The $90,000 (guaranteed) finals of the Moore’s Mile and Shirley McClellan Breeders’ Stakes are set for Saturday, June 13 at Century Downs.
Mercedes was back to winning ways with a 1:52.2 score in the $15,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, upping his season's tally to five-for-eight in top-level events. The All Bets Off-Skade stallion, fifth in last week’s contest, left with the gate but dropped back to third to let the early dust settle, then vaulted to the front off a :27 opening panel. Mercedes marched to the midway point in :55.2 for Brandon Campbell and threw up another solid panel as Midnight Mover (James Jungquist) made his presence felt to three-quarters in 1:23.4. The leader dismissed the challenger coming off the final turn and neutralized the pocket-sitting Outlaw Game On (Mike Hennessy) down the stretch to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Came A Cavalier (Phil Giesbrecht) brought a strong rush late to take second over Outlaw Game On.
With three Preferred wins in his last four starts, Mercedes has raised his career earnings to $194,491 for owner Raymond Henry of Calgary, Alta. Trained by Campbell throughout his career, the six-year-old is now 26-for-50 lifetime. He returned $4.10 at the mutuels.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)