Blue Eyed Cowboy overcame back-to-back post eight starts to sweep the elimination and Sunday's $50,700 final of the Alberta Sires Stakes Marksman leg for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Alberta Downs.
Incognito Cowboy (Keith Clark) worked his way to the front of the field around the first turn, but early leaver Comes Home First (Jim Marino) retook the lead just past the :28-second first quarter mark. Favourite Comes Home First continued on to the half in :57.3 while last year's Super Final champion Blue Eyed Cowboy and Bill Tainsh Jr. began to advance first up from fifth. Those two elimination winners battled on top to three-quarters in 1:26.2 with Blue Eyed Cowboy taking over in the stretch and drawing away, despite baring out, for the six and a half length victory in 1:53.3. Son Of Anarchy (Rod Hennessey) came on for second beating out the recovering early breaker, Alberta Plainsman champion Sotally Tober (Jamie Gray), in a photo.
"He worked a little more today than he did last week," noted trainer/owner Rod Starkewski of Lamont, Alta. after the race.
"Blue Eyed Cowboy has a really big motor in him," said Tainsh Jr. "He's a nice horse. He's the nicest horse I've ever driven in Alberta for sure."
Blue Eyed Cowboy (Brandons Cowboy-Eicarls Blue Eyes) earned his third straight win and ninth in 21 career starts, boosting his bankroll over the $100,000 mark.
Blue Eyed Cowboy paid $5.30 to win as the slight second choice.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Alberta Downs.