Two-year-old pacing colt Wrangler Betonme dazzled onlookers with his 1:55.4 track record performance in a division of the Alberta Sires Stakes Rising Star on Saturday afternoon at Alberta Downs
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Driver Bill Tainsh Jr. sent Wrangler Betonme to command from Post 4 in the fourth and final $14,900 Rising Star division on the card and went unchallenged as they cruised through fractions of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:28.4 en route to the three length victory. The 1:55.4 mile time bested Western Chrome’s track record for two-year-old male pacers by one-fifth of a second. Somethinsgoinon (Keith Clark) finished second off a pocket trip and Blue Star Quest (Jeff Stone) finished back in third.
Wrangler Betonme paid $3.50 to win as the bettor’s choice. Also a winner of his Horizon Pace division on August 1, the Glenda Smith trainee is now two-for-three in his career with nearly $17,000 banked. Breeders Dr. Maurice Stewart and Maureen Stewart of Leduc, Alta. share ownership of the As Promised-Ja El Shamrock colt with Lyle and Sandy Reid of Sherwood Park, Alta.
Cenalta Power also entered the record books with his career-best 1:57.1 effort in an earlier $14,900 division. The son of Brandons Cowboy-Wolf Creek shaved three-fifths of a second off Smooth Criminal’s two-year-old gelding record when he inherited the victory following a judges' placing. Outlaw Beacon (Connie Kolthammer) inherited second while Lilshakerboomboom (Scott Knight) was placed back to third after the crossing the wire first. His early break caused interference to Cenalta Power and Outlaw Beacon, ultimately costing him the win.
Cenalta Power paid $24.20 for the 11-1 upset. Ryan Grundy trains, drives and co-owns the $1,500 ASHA Yearling Sale purchase, who is now two-for-three in his career, with Arthur Grundy of Ste Anne, MB. His earnings climbed to $7,740 with the lion’s share of the purse.
Mjjz R Us and trainer-driver Rod Starkewski rallied home to prevail by a neck over pacesetter and late breaker Hollywood Hotel (Gerry Hudon) in a lifetime best 1:56.3 in his $14,600 division. Coolestdudeintown (Rod Hennessy) finished third behind the favourite after his first over journey.
Mjjz R Us paid $6.50 to win as the slight second choice in the field. Starkewski also shares ownership of the Camcracker-Jemz R Us colt with breeder Larry Thomas of Edmonton, Alta., and Blair Thomas of Red Deer, Alta. Also a Horizon Pace winner, the $2,000 ASHA Yearling Sale purchase is two-for-four in the career with over $16,000 earned.
Playbook romped to a 13 length 1:58.1 triumph in the other $14,900 division for trainer-driver Keith Clark, who also co-owns with Verne Rea and Laurence Swalm of Calgary, Alta., and Bobby Clark of Dewinton, Alta. Lildudes Mirage (Scott Knight) and Minettas Leader (Jamie Gray) rounded out the top three finishers.
Playbook paid $3.90 to win as the odds-on favourite. The homebred son of Camcracker-Incognito Miss is now three-for-four in his career with over $11,000 stashed away.
In other action, the undefeated Caress Of Steel earned his fifth consecutive victory and set a track record for three-year-old pacing colts with his 1:54.2 effort in the third race. Jim Marino drove the popular son of Ludwigpanbeethoven-Madigan Mae for trainer Lance Ward and owner-breeder Joe Tinelli of St. Albert, Alta. Gramrun Jake held the former three-year-old pacing colt record of 1:54.4 while pacing colt Clintons Escape currently holds the overall male record for sophomores (and all-ages), which stands at 1:50.2.
Trainer Darryl Cutting teamed up with driver Scott Knight to earn a training triple during the 11-race program.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.