Making her first start since the end of June, veteran pacing mare Stash The Cookies showed no signs of rust with her performance in the $12,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace on Friday, Aug. 16 at Century Downs.
Paired with regular pilot Brandon Campbell, Stash The Cookies was sent postward in the field of seven as the 4-5 pari-mutuel favourite. The popular mare rewarded those punters providing that favouritism.
Campbell requested early speed from Stash The Cookies from the rail, and the mare obliged but yielded the front to last week's Preferred winner, Outlaw Sharktastic (Mike Hennessy). After a :27.3 opener and :56.3 half, Stash The Cookies vacated the pocket and attacked the pacesetter through a 1:24.2 third station. Stash The Cookies cleared to the lead around the far turn, opened up a three-length lead at the head of the stretch and cruised home two lengths the best in a snappy 1:52.2. If Only Id Known (Phil Giesbrecht) rallied for second with Outlaw Sharktastic at the bottom of the triactor ticket.
Trained by John Chappell for Derek Gilbert of Brandon, Man., Stash The Cookies (Sunfire Blue Chip - Saucy B) sports 34 lifetime victories and a 34-22-14 summary from 106 starts with nearly $350,000 in career earnings. She paid $3.70 to win.
The driving win for Campbell was one of five on the card for the local horseman, vaulting him into second over David Kelly in the Century Downs' driver standings. Campbell also connected on Friday with Yenoh Who (1:54; $3.50) in the second race, Skys Little Spunk (1:54.3; $2.90) in the fourth, All Speculation (1:55.1; $8.60) in the sixth and Metaki (1:55; $4.30) in the ninth.
Yenoh Who, Skys Little Spunk and Metaki also hail from the Campbell stable, giving the conditioner a training hat trick as well. With 47 scores at Century Downs this year, he fronts Kelly Hoerdt by a 47-41 margin.
To view the results from Friday's card at Century Downs, click the following link: Friday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)