One of North America's hottest horses kicked off the card with a bang as Playa Duharas earned her eighth consecutive victory against $8,000 filly and mare claimers on Sunday, July 7 at Georgian Downs.
Saddled with the outside post eight, driver Travis Cullen confidently steered the 1-5 favourite to the front off the gate to lead to the quarter in :28. Playa Duharas received respect on the lead as Cullen gave her a breather to the halfway point in :57.1. From there, Cullen mashed the gas pedal on the backstretch with Playa Duharas quickly putting seven lengths of separation between herself and the field to three-quarters in 1:25.3.
Turning for home, the lead would only continue to grow for Playa Duharas. Leaving the field in her wake with a :29.2 final quarter, Playa Duharas extended the lead to 11 lengths by the wire to stop the clock in 1:55. Shady Memories (Scott Young) finished second and Watch Me Dance (Steve Byron) crossed the wire in third.
Trained by Jodie Cullen, Playa Duharas has now won half of her 24 starts in 2024. The eight-year-old daughter of Sunshine Beach-Histoire Duharas was owned by A1Stable before being claimed by new owners Randy Ertel and Cory Gutherie following the victory. Playa Duharas is a 24-time career winner, having banked $120,163 lifetime.
Also on the Sunday card was an $8,000 division of the Prospect Series for three-year-old trotting fillies, which was originally scheduled on June 30 as the second of two divisions before a starting gate malfunction cancelled the final two races on that card. The first division on June 30 was won by Sue Anne and driver Louis-Philippe Roy in 2:00.4.
Sent off as the 1-9 heavy favourite, Saulsbrook Cami made quick work of her rescheduled Prospect Series division. Driver Todd Ratchford settled Saulsbrook Cami in third early before moving first-over and taking command just beyond the half in 1:00.4. From there, Saulsbrook Cami opened up by three lengths to three-quarters in 1:29.4, before maintaining that margin to the finish line in 2:00. Stormony Friendly (Brett MacDonald) was second, with Shetrotsalot (Paul Walker) finishing third.
Now a two-time winner in seven seasonal outings, Saulsbrook Cami is trained by Paul MacDonell. Owned by Hailee Currie, the daughter of Alarm Detector-Soft Parade now sports a career bankroll of $18,704.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)
*Editors Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported Playa Duharas had nine consecutive victories.