Crackers Hot Shot and driver Bill Tainsh Jr. rallied home off cover to win the $53,600 Alberta Diamond Final for sophomore pacing fillies by a neck in a three-across finish on Saturday afternoon at Alberta Downs.
After winning her elimination in a 1:55.2 career-best clocking last weekend, Crackers Hot Shot was sent postward as the 2-5 favourite in the final and got up in deep stretch to take a new mark of 1:54 flat for trainer and owner Rod Starkewski of Lamont, Alta.
Emotions Run Wild (Kelly Hoerdt) fired off the gate to establish the lead over insiders Blue Star West (Jamie Gray) and Crackers Hot Shot while a parked out Barona Lilac (Brandon Campbell) managed to find a spot along the pylons in fourth through a :29.1 opening quarter.
Emotions Run Wild continued to lead the fillies down the backstretch to the half in :58.3 before Blue Star West was flushed from the pocket around the final turn towards the 1:26.3 third quarter station with Crackers Hot Shot on her back.
The pacesetter was confronted from both sides down the stretch with stablemate Barona Lilac finding room on the inside and Crackers Hot Shot rallying wide. Those three separated themselves from the rest of the field in a sprint to the wire with outsider Crackers Hot Shot surging by to score her second Alberta Sires Stakes trophy this season. Barona Lilac finished half a length behind in second over Emotions Run Wild.
The Camcracker filly also swept the first Princess leg of the Alberta Sires Stakes in June and will look to continue her undefeated ABSS sophomore record in October's Marquis event next.
The victory was her 11th in 16 career starts and lifted her bankroll well over the $100,000 mark.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.