Driver William Tainsh, Jr. captured two of the three Alberta Sires Stakes (ABSS) Rising Star events for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Sunday afternoon (August 20) at Century Downs.
In the first of three ABSS splits (race 2), carrying a purse of $19,067, Tainsh teamed up with Outlaw True Grit ($5.10) for a 1:57.1 maiden-breaking triumph. After finishing second in each of three prior appearances, Outlaw True Grit brushed to the fore, turned aside a sustained first-over push from Paradise Hill (Michael Hennessy), and sprinted clear at will to evade It’s a Great White (Keith Clark) and President Elect (Philip Giesbrecht) by 7-1/2 lengths. Trainer Rodney Starkewski shares ownership of the Blue Burner-Gunslingin Gal gelding with Clauzette Byckal.
Tainsh came back to capture the $19,067 fourth event with another second-time starter Custards Laststand ($13.40), using a pocket trip to upend 3-5 favourite Dragon Slayer (Jim Marino) by half a length in 1:58.3 while Outlaw Call Me Mr (J. F. Gagne) rallied belatedly to take third, another seven lengths back. Trainer Kelly Hoerdt co-owns the son of Custard The Dragon and The Mattican, with Blair Corbeil.
In the middle division, carrying a purse of $18,767 and carded as the third race, Freedoms Rescue ($7.20) made a late move out of third to wear down odds-on pacesetter Tap The Keg (Hennessy) and evade a late-lifting In For The Chase (Ryan Grundy) for a 1:57.4 victory. Jim Marino drove the Freedoms Pass-Me Myself And I gelding to his second career win in six starts for owners William and Dianne Neish and trainer Glenn Lutz.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results – Century Downs.