Driver Mike Hennessy swept the two third-leg divisions of the Conditioned Claiming Series on Sunday, Aug. 24 at The Track On 2 with Cambridge Duchess and Kiss My Bet.
In the $4,000 contest for fillies and mares, Hennessy sent Cambridge Duchess to the front with :27.2 speed to the quarter. She settled onto the lead and was allowed :57 and 1:27.1 middle panels and was uncatchable down the stretch, coasting late to her fourth straight victory in a lifetime-best 1:55. Shes Like The Wind (Kelly Hoerdt) reduced the margin to a length as she finished second. Blue Star Sapphire (Brandon Campbell) was third. The winner paid $2.20.
Cambridge Duchess has won all three legs of the series and is now eight-for-19 on the season. The daughter of Domitian Hanover-Princess Merlot has won eight of 31 career starts and has earned $33,361. Rebecca Kanak trains the four-year-old for Trevor Williams of Landmark, Man.
With the win, Hennessey reached 1,500 career victories. The Track On 2 made a presentation to the driver in the winner’s circle.
Hennessy replicated his tactics in the $4,000 claiming series event for males but found greater resistance from his rivals. He fired Kiss My Bet out from post five, and the stallion’s speed had him on top entering the first turn. After a :28.4 quarter, Ak Eagle (Kevin Hildebrandt) rolled first-up from fifth and put the leader under pressure through the half in :58.3 and three-quarters in 1:28.3.
Ak Eagle waved the white flag as they came off the final turn, but Ima Party Boy (Phil Giesbrecht) picked up the chase as he slid off the pylons. He pursued the leader all the way home, but Kiss My Bet held him at bay and won by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Shady Roan (Campbell) finished third.
Kiss My Bet has won back-to-back legs of the claiming series for trainer Brinsley Brooking Lutz of Calgary, Alta., who shares ownership of the All Bets Off-Stealin The Kisses stallion with Harvey Jaeger of Airdrie, Alta. Kiss My Bet has won seven of 21 attempts in his four-year-old campaign and is 10-for-40 overall with $43,862 in the bank. He paid $2.10 to win.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - The Track On 2.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Cambridge Duchess winning on Aug. 24)