Two-year-old filly pacers Outlawcherishafool and Shadow Time captured their respective $25,000 Emerald Filly Stakes divisions on Saturday afternoon at Alberta Downs.
Outlawcherishafool sat third for most of the mile before rallying home to win her first major test in 1:58 for trainer-driver Connie Kolthammer and her Outlaw Stable.
Favourite Sureshowedu (Rod Starkewski) fired to the lead from post three and posted a :28.1 opening quarter before inside starter Kiss My Crouper (Ryan Grundy) swept to command from the pocket. The new leader carved out middle fractions of :59 and 1:28.2 without facing any challenges until the top of the stretch where Sureshowedu pulled the pocket and Outlawcherishafool fanned three-wide. Outlawcherishafool kicked home in :28.4 to overtake her inside rivals and prevail by two and a half lengths. Contesta Hanover (Keith Clark) came on for second while Sureshowedu settled for third.
The homebred daughter of Blue Burner and Fox Valley Cherish followed up a third-place schooling effort on July 7 with the victory. She paid $15.40 to win.
Shadow Time also scored from off the pace in her division, stopping the clock in 1:59.3 with Jim Marino in the bike for trainer Lance Ward.
Favourite Outlawlookslikrain fired from post six, but made a costly break in stride while trying to clear, spoiling Kolthammer's chance for a stakes sweep. Instead, Fire Dance (Don Monkman Jr.) grabbed the lead and rolled past early fractions of :28 and :59.2. Crown And Ginger (Tim Brown) was flushed out of the pocket during the third panel by the advancing Shadow Time and battled on top with Fire Dance past the 1:29.3 third quarter mark. Fire Dance took over command in the stretch, but Shadow Time swept by in the late stages to win by two and three-quarter lengths. Crown And Ginger was second and Sharkys Law (Rod Hennessy) came on for third.
The As Promised-Lynerin Hanover filly, who won her qualifying debut in mid-July and was a runner-up in a schooler the following week, is owned by the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C. Shep aid $6.70 to win.
In this week's edition of the $8,500 Open Pace, Trust The Artist advanced first over from fourth and wore down Timberline Court (Gerry Hudon) to win in 1:55.4 as the rain started to pour at the Lacombe track. The eight-year-old son of Real Artist is owned by trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt, Blair Corbeil and Mike McAllister, all of Beaumont, Alta. The win was his second in six starts this year.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.