Trainer/driver Logan Gillis and Bares All benefitted off a ground-saving trip to get the nod in a three-way photo finish in the $14,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace at Century Downs while Phil Giesbrecht settled for second in rein to Poker Queen but won six other races on the Friday, July 17 card.
Bares All bested Poker Queen and Grey Sea at the wire in the Friday feature, prevailing by a head in 1:53.1 for Gillis.
Grey Sea, the 1-4 bettors' choice in the field of five with Kelly Hoerdt in the driver's seat, took control over pylon starter Bares All off the gate with longshot Outlawguns N Roses (Drew Campbell) following in third midfield. The first fraction went in :27.2 followed by a half in :56.4, with Stash The Cookies (Brandon Campbell) getting underway from the back and Poker Queen following her cover as the leader stole a breather in the second panel.
Grey Sea raced on to three-quarters in 1:24.2 while maintaining a clear lead but company was coming. Poker Queen fanned three-wide turning for home while Bares All took the shortest route up the inside and those two mares closed in on both side of the front-striding favourite in the stretch.
In a sprint to the finish, the three mares hit the wire just heads apart, with Bares All stealing the spotlight. Poker Queen nabbed second and Grey Sea settled for third in between.
Bares All was the 9-2 second choice as she climbed back to the top distaff pace off her first victory of the season a week prior. She returned $11 to her $2 win backers.
The five-year-old Heston Blue Chip-Skinny Dipper mare has picked up cheques in all but one of her 12 starts this year with her second victory bumping her seasonal earnings to $21,086 for owner Todd Teolis of St. Albert, Alta. She now has a dozen wins on her record from 55 career starts, with lifetime earnings totalling $162,858.
Giesbrecht's big night included a pair of winners trained by his father-in-law Gerry Hudon, Lucky Girl Hill ($2.80) and Nacho Nacho Man ($6), as well as two for trainer Brinsley Brooking Lutz, Bewitched ($5.50) and Electric Amadeus ($2.70). His other wins on the 11-race card were with Amadeo ($2.80) for the Rebecca Kanak stable and Cash On Demand ($3.20) for conditioner Margaret White.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following links: Friday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)