Driver Bill Tainsh Jr. doubled up in Alberta Sires Stakes action as he sent three-year-old Blue Burner colts Smooth Criminal and Outlaw Beacon down the road to win two of the three $7,500 Alberta Marksman eliminations featured on Sunday afternoon's harness racing card at Alberta Downs.
Reigning Alberta Sires Stakes champion Smooth Criminal won the fastest Marksman elimination, pacing his mile in a career-best 1:53 flat for trainer Douglas Stout and Alberta owners Willie Wychopen of St. Paul and Walter Moroz of Edmonton.
The 5-2 second choice in the field cleared to command after the :28-second opening panel and carved out middle splits of :57.4 and 1:25.4 en route to a six length victory. Favourite Somethinsgoinon (Keith Clark) finished second and Cenalta Power (Ryan Grundy) was third.
The victory was Smooth Criminal's third in nine starts this year and pushed his 2012 earnings to $43,282 while his lifetime bankroll now sits just shy of the $100,000 mark.
With Tainsh Jr. catch-driving for trainer Lance Ward, 3-2 second choice Outlaw Beacon got to the front right away from post five in his elimination and cut out fractions of :27.4, :57.3, and 1:24.4 before holding off the pocket-pulling Playbook (Keith Clark) by half a length for the 1:53.4 score. Favourite Cowboy Caper (Kelly Hoerdt) was third.
Outlaw Beacon notched his third win in 14 starts this year for owners Ward and William Exelby of Sherwood Park, Alta., and Edward Dhoedt and the Shir Win Racing Stable of Edmonton. The colt has earned close to half of his $52,722 bankroll during his sophomore season.
The other elimination was won by driver John Chappell and 7-1 upsetter Lilshakerboomboom, a son of Northern Dynasty trained by David Lamont, in a personal best 1:56 clocking.
Lilshakerboomboom pulled the pocket after the :28.3 first quarter and swept to command before hitting the half in :58.1. He proceeded to lead the way to three-quarters in 1:27.2 and cruised home for the two and a quarter length tally over early leader Watch And Pray (J.F. Gagne) and Acesndeuces (Bobby Clark).
Lilshakerboomboom has earned most of his $27,133 career bankroll this year with three wins, one second and six thirds in 18 seasonal starts.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Alberta Downs.