Saturday, August 19 at Century Downs featured two divisions of the $53,900 Alberta Sires Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers.
Cutting a mile with splits of :29.2, 1:00.4, and 1:29.1, Maid In Alberta went the faster mile of the two divisions, winning in 1:57.4 over pocket-rider Bearcat Josi and Ginger Beer, who faltered to third following a first-over challenge around the final turn.
By Vertical Horizon out of the Albert Albert mare Exquisite Albert, Maid In Alberta won her second race in four starts, earning $26,458 for owner Donald Richardson. Trained by Harold Haining and driven by Serge Masse, she paid $8.70 to win.
Noisy Nora took the other Sires Stakes split, sitting a pocket trip to tempo-setter Roaring Home to win in 2:00. After setting the pace, Roaring Home faded to second, and Got Tone rallied past stretch-drive breakers Blink And Gone and Duannes Horizon to take third.
Owned by J J J Stables, Noisy Nora won the first race in three starts, earning $15,262. Trained and driven by Jim Marino, she returned $14.80.
Alongside the highlighted stakes, a quintet of mare pacers contested in the $8,500 Open Pace to kick off the Saturday program. Tajmealover, rallying off a fast pace, won as the 2-5 favourite in 1:55.1.
With Lydi Lula Belle going splits of :28.2 and :58, she soon caved under first-over pressure from Watch My Luck, carrying Tajmealover on her back. Taking a narrow lead into the stretch, Tajmealover soon kicked off cover and took a length lead approaching the wire, while Nighttraintovegas slid into contention off a pocket trip to take second and Watch My Luck holding third.
Her eighth win in 14 tries this season, Tajmealover, a six-year-old mare by Tajma Hall from the As Promised mare Watch Over Me, competes for owners Jean Francois Gagne, Peter Van Seggelen, Carl Warnaar, and Tapron Holdings Ltd. Trained by Marjorie Dumont, and driven by Jean Francois Gagne, she paid $2.80.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.