Standardbred racing in Yorkton was moved from its regular Friday night schedule to Saturday, where it was part of the entertainment package for the Yorkton Exhibition Association's summer fair
.
British Columbia-based owner/trainer/driver Rick Kosterman put together his best night of the Yorkton season, winning two.
In the third race Kosterman took Dynes At The Beach to top spot in a crisp 2:03.2. He edged out Air Force Hall and Tyler Redwood, who was coming off two straight wins in Yorkton. Kevin Sampson had Bigtime Jackpot finishing third.
Kosterman said the race didn't exactly go as planned, but things worked out.
“I just went as far and as fast as I could,” he said with a smile after the card's completion.
Kosterman said when they hit three quarters in 1:30 he knew it was going to be a fast mile for the $2,500 claimer class. That said he was in a good spot. And added, he saw what he thought was the best horse in the field was on the outside and had the long track to go.
Meanwhile, Dynes At The Beach just kept pacing.
“He just went all he could,” said Kosterman of the five-year-old gelding. “He had nothing left in the tank.”
Kosterman said the race was about as good as he could expect from the horse, adding he has finally come into form for his class in Yorkton.
Kosterman also had Pumpjack in the winner's circle in the Bert Dalgliesh Memorial Feature Race, the fifth on the card in a time of 2:05.4. Brian Gray took Unda Investigation to second, and Hugh Woods took Duff Love to third.
“Pumpjack, he raced huge,” said Kosterman.
Pumpjack has been Mr. Consistency for Kosterman in Yorkton rolling off two 2:05 and two 2:05.4 miles over his last five starts, but Saturday was his first win of the season. Kosterman noted the horse has bad front legs, so they spent a lot of time icing them down before the race, and that seemed to give Pumpjack a little extra.
Kosterman said both Pumpjack and Dynes At The Beach were purchased in B.C., and both seem to finally be coming into form in Yorkton. He added that is good news considering his Yorkton season has been slow to start.
“The meet was off to a very slow start,” he said, adding the wins Saturday are hopefully the start of better things. He added his children have now moved out for the summer so he has help with the horses.
Kosterman said he also had to credit partner Jocelyn Montgomery for getting the horses ready to pace. “She drives all the way from Edmonton most weekends to get them ready,” he said.
For the second week in-a-row, Clayton Braybrook took two firsts, getting Just So Justified to top spot in the fourth race at 2:05.4, and Barona Dakota in the seventh in 2:04. It was the same two horses he drove to wins a week earlier in Yorkton.
Tyler Redwood also scored a pair of wins, taking Shyloh Shazam to the win in the opening race of the card in a slow time of 2:10.1, then had Barona Fivehundred winning the Saskatchewan Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association feature race in the best time of the night at 2:00.2.
Barona Fivehundred was coming off setting a new rack record in Virden June 28, at 1:59.
Kevin Sampson, made it four drivers with two wins each as he won the eighth race with Power Maid in 2:04. He had earlier taken the veteran Kneehill Harry to the winner's circle in the second race of the card in 2:05.
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(Yorkton Exhibition)