Trainer Lance Ward celebrated a pair of stake wins in the Horizon Pace with two-year-olds Comes Home First and Need You So Bad on Sunday afternoon at Alberta Downs while Tim Brown trainee Jet Tracker debuted impressively in 1:55.3 in the fastest and final division.
Jim Marino drove both of Ward's winners, who are owned by the J J J Stables of Aldergrove, B.C.
Comes Home First romped to a wide-open victory in the first of three $16,667 divisions. The early leaver retook the lead after the :28-second opening panel and fronted the field through fractions of :58.4 and 1:27.4 before drawing away by 10-3/4 lengths to win in 1:56.4. Longshot Shyloh Changerluck (James Jungquist) and Blue Eyed Cowboy (Bill Tainsh Jr.) came on from the backfield to round out the top three finishers. The Brandons Cowboy colt now has two wins in two pari-mutuel starts.
Need You So Bad led at every pole to remain perfect in his young career. Also making his second pari-mutuel start, the American Ideal gelding carved out fractions of :28, :58.4 and 1:28.1 before battling back against an on-rushing Ghost Pine (Kelly Hoerdt) to prevail in 1:58. Ghost Pine finished two lengths behind in second while The Big Heist (Rene Goulet) closed from the back of the pack to show.
Jet Tracker proved to be the best of the bunch with his 1:55.3 speedy score in the other division for owners Albert and Lois Branham of Sherwood Park, Alta.
Driven by Brandon Campbell, the Jeremes Jet colt sat a two-hole trip through early fractions of :27.4 and :58.1 before blasting to command. He quickly opened up six and a half lengths on his rivals by the 1:25.3 third quarter station and more than doubled that margin to 14-1/4 in the final panel. Cowboy Mathis (Keith Clark) came from last to place while early breaker Pass The Port (Paul Davies) finished third.
In regular racing action, nine-year-old pacer Trust The Artist earned his second consecutive victory in the $8,500 Open for trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt after turning back challenger Smooth Criminal (Bill Tainsh Jr.) around the final turn during a 1:53 mile. The 53-time career winner is owned by Hoerdt and partners Blair Corbeil and Mike McAllister, all of Beaumont, Alta. Mr Saratoga (Quentin Schneider) and No Fear (Brandon Campbell) came on for second and third-place honours.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Alberta Downs.