Kelly Hoerdt could do no wrong during Sunday’s 11-race card at Alberta Downs. In fact, he did his best impersonation of King Midas because whatever he touched turned to gold.
Hoerdt, who was a finalist in the Horsemanship of the Year Award at last year’s O’Brien Awards, celebrated five driving victories and four training wins over the course of the card including a triumph with Premium Attaction in the $50,000 Brad Gunn Final for three-year-old pacing colts & geldings.
The son of Clintons Cigar-Themaneattacktion got away fourth and watched Lisvinnie steamroll through wild, early fractions of :26.1, :54.4 and 1:23. American Venture was first-over against the leader in the third quarter and Premium Attaction, who tracked that cover, fired three-wide on the way to the three-quarter maker. Premium Attacktion’s 29-second closing panel earned him the nose decision over Blue Star Admiral in 1:52.1. Tip Top Tap tagged along to grab the show dough.
The 1:52.1 performance matched Blue Star Admiral’s one-week old track record. He set the mark winning his elimination of the Brad Gunn.
Hoerdt and fellow partner Blair Corbeil watched the pacer improve this year’s tally to 4-1-0 from six tries while his lifetime win total climbed to 10 from just 15 assignments. The lion’s share of Sunday’s purse put him over $70,000 on the season and past $150,000 in his career.
Hoerdt also captured the $8,500 Open Pace with Trust The Artist.
The nine-year-old son of Real Artist-Abreachoftrust laid down panels of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:26.1 before slipping home in :27.1 en route to the 1:53.2 decision. IT was 1-1/4 lengths back to runner-up No Fear and third-place finisher Smooth Criminal.
Trust The Artist, who is owned by Hoerdt, Blair Corbeil and Mike McAllister, improved this year’s record to 3-2-5 from 13 starts with the win. The 52-time winner has banked $581,145 to date.
Hoerdt also won with that pacer’s stablemates Rays High Noon (1:58.4) and Cowboy Caper (1:52.4). He also guided the Doug Shaw-trained Stiletto Spur to a 1:55.1 tally in Race 8.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Alberta Downs.