The second leg of the Alberta Diamond Stakes highlighted the Sunday afternoon program at Evergreen Park, with five divisions on tap for the three-year-old pacing fillies
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Jennas Pass was a coast-to-coast winner in the opening split. The daughter of Freedoms Pass-Presidential Jenna laid down fractions of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:27.1 before kicking home in :29.3 for driver Ronald Graham to seal the deal in 1:56.4. Red Star Bytheway was next best, with Prairie Elegance taking home the show dough. Joseph O’Brien trains the five-time winner for the partnership of Battle River Stables and Tim McCoy of Edmonton, AB.
Barona Hush notched her first win of the season in the second division, winning in a time of 1:58.2 for trainer/driver Brent Grundy, who co-owns the Northern Dynasty-Matty Arbuckle miss with partner Diane Bertand of Edmonton, AB. Grundy used off-the-pace tactics to win the $17,267 event, defeating Renata M and Promisinggoodnews in the process. The three-time winner has banked more than $41,000 to date.
Western Bee front-stepped her way to victory lane in the third division for trainer/driver J.F. Gagne, who rolled her through splits of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:27.1 before finishing off the competition with a :29.1 final frame in the 1:56.2 decision. Pretty Promised was a little more than a length back in second and third prize went to Onaway. Unraced as a rookie, the daughter of As Promised-Flaming Princess has put together a 5-3-0 record in 11 starts while banking just over $28,000 along the way for the partnership of Ringneck Enterprises Ltd. and James Sutherland of Calgary, AB.
A Special Lady went wire-to-wire in the fourth division for driver Bill Tainsh, Jr. and trainer Jeff McLeod. On the lead through panels of :29.3, :59.2 and 1:29.1, the daughter of As Promised-Southwind Holley rifled home in :27.2 to produce the 1:56.3 clocking. She defeated runner-up GTs Lizzy by more than six lengths, while About Sunshine grabbed the show dough. Bred by Gord Rumpel, who co-owns the filly with Gord Remmen and Dr. Maurice Stewart, A Special Lady now boasts a 5-5-3 record in her first 19 starts of the season. She has potted more than $58,000 in her career.
Lady And Thetrench also employed front-end tactics to take her $17,267 assignment for trainer/driver Keith Clark, who co-owns the sophomore with Pat Elynuik and John Hind. The Armbro Trench-Cambests Lady miss chopped out fractions of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:28 before cruising home for the 1:59 score over Pureform Aurora and Promisemearose. It was the fifth win of the season in nine tries for the youngster, who went over the $50,000 mark in lifetime earnings with the win.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.