The colt and the filly that prevailed in major stakes action two weeks ago, Grey Horizon and Outlawguns N Roses delivered as expected in their respective returns to Alberta Sires Stakes competition on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Century Downs.
Saturday's card featured a pair of $12,500 Alberta Plainsman eliminations for three-year-old male pacers and two $12,500 Alberta Princess elims for the sophomore fillies.
The boys went first on this occasion, with Klein Memorial winner Grey Horizon ($2.10) delivering a 1:55.2 score for his connections after a wire-to-wire effort. Brandon Campbell guided the flashy performer through fractions of :28.4, :57.3 and 1:24.3 before getting a scare from Matteuse (Nathan Sobey) around the final turn. Grey Horizon composed himself and completed his task in 1:55.2, finishing with broken equipment a length the best. Matteuse, Rum N Custard (Phil Giesbrecht) and Come On Santana (Jamie Gray) comprised the top quartet guaranteed to advance to the $50,000 Alberta Plainsman final.
One of three winners on the day for trainer Brandon Campbell, Grey Horizon (Vertical Horizon - Panagler) is owned by Jodi Loftus, Raymond Henry and George Rogers all of Calgary, Alta. In 18 starts, Grey Horizon sports a solid 10-6-0 record with $212,960 in purse earnings.
YYC On The Horizon ($2.90) completed the sweep of the Plainsman elims by public choices. David Kelly popped pocket on pacesetter Outlaw Game On (Mike Hennessy) after a :58.1 half and cleared that rival just prior to a 1:25.4 third station. A :29.4 final stanza was more than enough, as YYC On The Horizon hit the wire in 1:55.3 more than two lengths the best. Outlaw Game On, Blueline Bruiser (Giesbrecht) and One Hot Minute also punched their tickets to next week's Plainsmen final.
YYC On The Horizon (Vertical Horizon - Divas Dragonfly) picked up the fifth win of his three-year-old season for trainer Jamie Gray, who co-owns the winner of $54,084 with Wild Dunes Stables of Delta, B.C.
Much like her Klein counterpart, Rumpel Memorial winner Outlawguns N Roses ($2.10) was much the best in her Alberta Princess elim. Driver Dave Kelly had the favourite fourth in the early going as Foothills Magic (Giesbrecht) posted early panels of :28.4 and :58.3. Approaching the half, Kelly gave his filly her cue, and she ranged up to the top heading down the backstretch. After a 1:26 third station, Outlawguns N Roses fired home in :28.2 for the 1:54.2 tally. Foothills Magic stayed for second, four lengths back, with Saucy Posse (Hennessy) and Outlawelectricblue (Logan Gillis) advancing to the $50,000 Princess final.
Rod Starkewski trains and co-owns Outlawguns N Roses (Captive Audience - Gunslingin Gal) with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway, Alta. The local track record holder, Outlawguns N Roses sports a stellar 11-4-0 summary from 18 starts with $242,750 in earnings.
Over Ice ($15.30; pictured above) snapped the parade of favorites with an eye-catching score in the first Princess elim. Sent off at 1-9, Byby Baby Baby (Hennessy) posted early panels of :28.3 and :58 before backing through the field. Brandon Campbell was sitting in the three spot with Over Ice, tugged on the right line once the outer flow started to form from the backfield, and timed that move perfectly as when she started her brush she appeared to explode with pace down the backstretch. With an eight-length advantage at the 1:26 third station, Over Ice maintained an eight-length advantage at the wire in a 1:55 romp. Oye Como Va (Sobey), Delta Sunrise (Kelly) and Caughtstealinghome (Gray) comprised the superfecta.
A homebred of B.C.'s J J J Stables, Over Ice (Custard The Dragon - Arm In Arm) notched the second win of her sophomore campaign and seventh lifetime for purses of $141,613. Brandon Campbell also conditions the filly, the middle winner of his three-win day that concluded in the finale with Mercedes (1:55.2; $2.50).
Shark Week ($2.10) delivered on his 1-9 pari-mutuel promise, winning the $12,500 Preferred Pace in 1:53.1. Samba Beat (Giesbrecht) made it close, but Shark Week dug deep and showed his class for the win — his 47th lifetime — by three-quarters of a length. Sunshine Boy (Campbell) was best of the rest in third.
Rod Hennessy trains Shark Week, and co-owns the six-year-old son of Vertical Horizon - Shark Gone Bad with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta. His earnings now stand at $388.975.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Alberta, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)