The field for the first Shirley McClellan Breeders Stakes Final is now complete after a pair of $7,500 eliminations on Saturday (June 8) at Century Downs.
Favoured Rockin Mystery had everything her way to punch her ticket to next week's final after a 1:56.3 score in the first elim. David Kelly placed the 1-9 shot on top early, hammered out fraction of :29, :58 and 1:27.1 before repelling a late challenge from Gin Twist (James Jungquist) to score in 1:56.3. Whatineedisaman (Keih Clark) and Cenalta Glory (Rene Goulet) completed the top four and will also advance.
Trained in Alberta by 2018 Rising Star Award winner Chris Lancaster for BC-based owners Rod Therres and Blair Miller, Rockin Mystery (Mystery Chase - Cant Stop Rockin) picked up her third win of the season from eight starts and with earnings of $42,000.
In the second division, longshot Mrs Sugwiggins and driver Paul Davies capitalized on a tussle between favoured Lady Neigh Neigh, Stash The Cookies and Alberta Princess champ Hottieonthehorizon to stalk from second over and clear rivals late to spring the 30-1 upset in a lifetime best 1:55.3.
After finishing either first or second in each of her eight rookie starts, Mrs Suhwiggins (Custard The Dragon - Michelles Fury) notched the first win of her sophomore season and just second on-the-board score in five starts for owner J J J Stables of Prince George, B.C. and trainer Amy Henry.
The Shirley McClellan Breeders Stakes is for three-year-old pacing fillies in 2019 that are sired by a stallion registered with ASHA OR are Alberta foaled OR are 100% Alberta owned as defined by HRA at the time of nomination and declaration. The top four from each division will qualify for next week's $50,000 final.
In the $9,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, Scardy Cat got a pocket ride from favoured Cusdmagicdragon (Kelly Hoerdt) through fractions of :28, :57 and 1:24.3 before finding a seam up the rail late in the mile to collar the pacesetter and scamper across the wire three-quarters of a length the best in 1:54 to notch her first win at the open level in Alberta. Cusdmagicdragon was next best with first over challenger Custard Lite (Mike Hennessy) completing the triactor.
A homebred owned by J J J Stables of Prince George, B.C. and trained by Amy Henry, Scardy Cat (Sportswriter - Cats Meow) picked up her second win of the season and 11th tally lifetime. The winner's share of the purse lifted her lifetime bankroll to $221,851.
Henry and J J J Stables along with Scardy Cat and Mrs Suhwiggens, See You At Five ($23.80) came from off the pace to win the second race on the card to give the team three wins total on the day.
To view the charted results for Saturday's card of harness racing at Century Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.