Four divisions of ASHA Stakes – two for the boys and two for the girls – went postward Monday at Century Downs, and driver Brandon Campbell captured three of those events as part of a four-win night at the office.
Da Magician, in rein to owner/trainer/driver Serge Masse, used come-from-behind tactics to take his $12,500 division in 1:54.
Masse got away third with the three-year-old son of Dragon Again-Hottie Hanover, while American Dreamer led the way through first-half fractions of :28.2 and :58. Da Magician started a first-over rally in the third quarter, and he worked his way to the top before racing by the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3. A :28.2 closing quarter was more than enough for him to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Senga Nitro. Taking home third prize was Retros Mystery.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Da Magician improved this year’s record to 7-2-3 from 13 starts with the victory. The 12-time winner has banked $236,460 to date.
Ima Dude went to the front and didn’t look back in his $12,500 assignment. Trainer/driver Brandon Campbell sliced out splits of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:26.2 with the colt who then used a :27.2 kicker to win by 2-3/4 lengths over race favourite Getup Gideon in 1:53.4. Tagging along to grab the show dough was Outlaw Blue Ice.
The three-year-old son of Lil Dude Starrbuck-Ethel Seelster races for Jodi Loftus, Timothy Kane and George Rogers. The partners watched the pacer rack up his fourth win of the season and the sixth of his career. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his cash stash to $130,113.
Cardinal Rule gave Campbell back-to-back training and driving wins thanks to her 1:55.3 triumph in the first of two $12,500 divisions for the girls.
The three-year-old daughter of Allamerican Navajo-Cai Hanover got away sixth before making a first-over move on the way to the half. She chipped away steadily and eventually used a :29.1 closing panel to win by three-quarters of a length over Outlaw Fireball. Rounding out the Trifecta ticket was Wedding Dance.
Ross Sharp of Campbell River, BC owns the filly who is 8-for-16 this season after going 0-for-8 last year. She’s banked more than $77,000 this year and close to $84,000 to date.
Grinandchaseit pulled off a 20-1 shocker in the other division for the fillies. Brandon Campbell got her involved early before settling for a pocket trip behind Thats It. Grinandchaseit angled out late and fired home in :30 to win by a half-length margin over Thats It in 1:55.3. The show dough went to Outlaw Imahotvixen.
Carl Archibald trains the three-year-old daughter of Mystery Chase-Terrified Grin for Meadowlark Farms of Airdrie, AB. The win was her fifth of the season and the sixth of her career. The lion’s share of the loot lifted her career bankroll to $29,507.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Century Downs.