Vladdy G and Blue Star Strike captured the headline Alberta Sires Stakes events for sophomore pacers, the Alberta Marksman and Alberta Diamond, respectively, on a card of stakes action at Century Downs on Saturday, July 18.
On the same day his namesake, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., provided the winning — and only — run for the Blue Jays, Vladdy G also recorded a big score in a tight contest, taking his first stakes victory in the $55,400 Alberta Marksman final for colts and geldings. Parked through much of a :27.3 opener, trainer-driver Logan Gillis slotted the gelding into the five-hole nearing that station, then right-lined him first over approaching the half in :57.2. That move flushed out favourite Ruler Of Dragons (Phil Giesbrecht) from third, providing Vladdy G cover through three-quarters in 1:24.4 and into the lane. Four horses sprinted for home, with Vladdy G to the outside of pocket-sitter Outlaw Country On (Drew Campbell), Boleto A Mexico (Brandon Campbell) and Ruler Of Dragons. Vladdy G produced the best late pace of that four and forged ahead by a neck to prevail in 1:54.1. Ruler Of Dragons came out second in the photo with Boleto A Mexico.
Vladdy G has won twice this season and been second in his four other starts, including the Moore’s Mile Breeders’ Stake, in which he was placed up from third. The Captive Audience-Alina gelding is now two-for-14 lifetime with earnings of $78,518 for Todd Teolis of St. Albert, Alta. He paid $13.50 to win.
Blue Star Strike had an ideal start from the second tier, looped to the lead, and was home a comfortable winner in the $54,800 Alberta Diamond for fillies. In rein to Drew Campbell, she followed rail starter Y V Four Roses (David Kelly) off the start to sit second to the :27.1 quarter before swinging out on the frontstretch and sliding to the top. Terrible Custard (Mike Hennessy), making a remarkable uncovered move past all but one rival after breaking early, ranged up to pressure the pacesetter after the half in :57.2. She tailed off as Blue Star Strike soared to three-quarters in 1:24.4, and the leader held firm down the stretch to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Mystery Shooter (Nathan Sobey) came on for second over Y V Four Roses.
The Mathew Howlett-trained Blue Star Strike won her elimination and the final, bringing her seasonal record to four-for-seven. The daughter of Captive Audience-Lucky Lucka has six victories and $116,572 in the bank from 16 outings for owner Donald Howlett of West St. Paul, Man. She paid $4.20 to win.
Four $25,000 divisions for two-year-olds represented the first freshman stakes competition of the year in Alberta. The fillies went first with a pair of splits of the Emerald Filly Pace, followed by the males in two divisions of the Norm Kennedy Memorial.
Captain Tahiti started a trend of front-end winners in the two-year-old contests, setting the pace for driver Phil Giesbrecht in the Emerald Filly Pace opener to remain undefeated in two starts. Once on the front, the daughter of Captain Deo-Tahiti Seelster led by open lengths through :27.4 and :58.4 fractions, shifted up a gear to three-quarters in 1:27.1 when engaged, and held off Sweet Phoenix (Blaine Chappell) in the stretch to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:57.2. Sweet Phoenix was passed late for second by Ruby Lips (Kelly Hoerdt), but the latter was placed fourth for interference, putting Sweet Phoenix back up to second and Miss Melanie (David Kelly) third. Captain Tahiti was a $2,000 ASHA Yearling Sale purchase by Chris Lancaster of Airdrie, Alta. and Douglas Bowers of Brandon, Man. The filly, trained by Lancaster, debuted with a 1:59.1 win on July 10. She paid $2.40 to win on Saturday.
Dixieland Delight broke her maiden with a 1:56.4 victory in the second split. The homebred for Donald Richardson of Cochrane, Alta. blasted away from the wings to lead instantly and set a favourable tempo in line to James Jungquist. She was unchallenged to the quarter in :28.1 and half in :59.1, accelerated to three-quarters in 1:27.3 as Montana Sky (David Kelly) emerged from third, and allowed only nominal gains from pocket-tripper Criminal Intention (Giesbrecht) to win by a half-length. Montana Sky finished third. Dixieland Delight, a daughter of Captain Deo-Miss Conduct, is one-for-two for trainer Harold Haining after finishing a closing second in her debut two weeks ago. Her win price was $4.70.
Rider Buddy produced the faster of two winning miles in the Norm Kenndy contests, holding on after taking a big early lead for a first-out score. After Rider Buddy steamed away to a four-length cushion at the quarter in :28.1 and tacked on another two lengths by the half in :58.3, pocket-sitter D A Pretty Boy (Kelly Hoerdt) mounted a rally. He reduced the deficit to three lengths at three-quarters in 1:27.3 and bore down on the leader in the stretch. D A Pretty Boy switched to the pylons and threatened late, but Rider Buddy hit the line a half-length clear in 1:56.3. Sir Talkalot (Nathan Sobey) finished third. Rider Buddy, purchased for $48,000 from the ASHA sale by Veikko Pajunen of Vancouver, B.C., won at the first time of asking for trainer-driver Rod Therres. The son of Cattlewash-Century Jacqueline returned $2.40 to win.
Scouts Command was the lone closer — and non-favourite — of the quartet of rookie winners as he rallied from fourth in the lane to take the other Norm Kennedy division in 1:57.3. Jungquist had the gelding swiftly off the wings and was content to take a pocket trip as Captain J (Brandon Campbell) reached up to take command in a :29.2 first quarter. Shark Edition (Giesbrecht) then muscled to the front past a 1:00.2 half, leaving Scouts Command locked in third racing through three-quarters in 1:28 and into the final turn. As the field fanned out down the stretch, Jungquist pointed Scouts Command between horses, and the gelding surged to the front and out-sprinted the late-charging Strait Up N Down (Kelly Hoerdt) for the half-length score. Dungannigans (Nathan Sobey) completed the top three. Scouts Command finished third in his pari-mutuel debut a week ago for trainer Sobey and owner Robert Jones of Stony Plain, Alta. before the son of Custard The Dragon-Rummys Command tallied his maiden victory on Saturday. Backers received $26.90 for their win tickets.
Amidst the stakes action, the indomitable Shark Week recaptured the overnight crown at Century Downs with a dominant effort in the $16,000 Preferred Pace. An early four-horse vanguard was quickly whittled down to two, with Shark Week out-pacing Hands Off Harry (Nathan Sobey) nearing the first turn to take control and put up the opening panel of :26.3. The all-age track-record holder ensured no foe could challenge him with :55.4 and 1:22.1 middle splits for Mike Hennessy, and he took off down the lane to a 2-3/4-length score in 1:50.2 — his first Preferred win since April. Mercedes (Brandon Campbell), this season’s top-level star, came charging from off the pace for second. Outlaw Game On (David Kelly) completed the triactor.
Shark Week, the fastest horse in the history of Western Canada, picked up his third victory of the year in 16 starts. The Vertical Horizon-Shark Gone Bad gelding, who went 16-for-23 last year while making all but one start at the Preferred level, looks to be back to form for trainer Rod Hennessy. The eight-year-old tallied his 68th career win from 123 starts and upped his bankroll to $591,335. Rod Hennessy, of Lacombe, Alta., co-owns him with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta. The win price was $3.80.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Vladdy G winning on July 18)