On Saturday at Miami, Heartland Icicle and Betts Karma each won their respective Lady Crocus divisions, which were co-sponsored by Standardbred Canada and the Manitoba Standardbred Sires & Breeders Association
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With Bubbles Promise vet scratched, the field for the first $4,280 division of the Lady Crocus was narrowed down to three. Manitoba Great Western Fair Stake runner-up Heartland Icicle and trainer/driver Philip Giesbrecht converted a pocket trip into a career-best 2:02.3 score finishing a length in front of pacesetter Justsprinklin (Dallas McGee). Dryland Sage (Michel Rey) finished a distant third.
Owned by Al Car Farms and Carole Drader of Brookdale, MB, the three-year-old Solid Ice-Hah filly improved her seasonal record to 5-1-1 in seven starts. The six-time career winner has earned $13,580 to date.
Five fillies lined up behind the gate for the second $4,380 division and it was Betts Karma who prevailed by two and a quarter lengths in 2:05.3. Driven by Roland Rey, the sophomore daughter of Firm Friend-Cute N Crafty sat in third for most of the mile as Double Stuff (Darryl Mason) led the way. Betts Karma followed the pocket-sitting Lime Rickey (Ryan Grundy) to the outside during the third interval and angled three-wide before sprinting home for the victory.
Lime Rickey was the runner-up and Special Pool (George Isman) finished third.
Don Anness trains and owns Betts Karma with Sheila Anness of Emo, Ont. Unraced at two, the winner of $9,764 has won four times in six outings and has yet to finish out of the money.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click here.